Frequently Asked Questions

November of 2023. (Incorporated as a nonprofit in June 2025.)

My family and our history.

Old Glory Retirement Foundation was founded by me, Adam Hunter, a U.S. Army veteran. While it started as my vision, it has quickly become a community-driven organization. We have an incredible board of directors, volunteers, veterans, civic organizations, and community partners who have helped shape what OGR has become. This Foundation belongs to everyone who believes our flag and our veterans deserve to be honored with dignity and respect.

I realized very early on that most Americans want to do the right thing when it comes to the flag, they simply don’t know how. Schools don’t teach flag etiquette like they once did. Patriotism isn’t about politics, it’s about understanding our history, respecting those who served, and appreciating the freedoms we enjoy every day. If we’re going to retire flags respectfully, we also have a responsibility to educate future generations on why the flag matters in the first place.

The moment people started asking, “What’s next?” After every ceremony, more veterans wanted to share their stories, more organizations wanted to partner with us, and more communities wanted to become involved. What began as a local effort quickly became much larger. When we retired 17,169 American flags during America’s 250th Anniversary celebration, it reinforced that people are hungry for meaningful ways to honor our nation’s traditions and veterans.

Honestly, it’s not the numbers. It’s watching a veteran cry when they hear their story read aloud during one of our ceremonies. It’s seeing schoolchildren learn how to properly fold an American flag. It’s bringing complete strangers together around a ceremonial fire to reflect on freedom and sacrifice. The 17,169 flags are remarkable, but the lives we’ve touched are what matter most.

People with servant hearts. You don’t have to be a veteran to volunteer with OGR. Some of our best volunteers are simply patriotic Americans who want to give back to their community.

We currently have a Board of Directors (3) CEO, PR Director, Marketing Director and volunteer leadership board positions (6) President, Vice President, Treasurer, Sectary, Sgt. at Arms and a Fire Marshal that oversee ceremony planning, veteran outreach, public relations, sponsorships, community partnerships, and volunteer coordination.

Everyone has their strengths. We try to put people in positions where they can best serve the mission. No one person can do this alone. But with a good core of leadership, we get things done.

I believe leaders should serve first. I don’t ask anyone to do something I’m unwilling to do myself. My leadership style has evolved from trying to do everything myself to empowering others to take ownership of our mission.

Very involved. Our Board provides guidance, helps make organizational decisions, and ensures we remain focused on our mission and values.

Eventually, yes. As we grow nationally, there will likely be a need for paid staff. However, we never want to lose the volunteer spirit that helped build this Foundation.

Depending on the volunteer role, training in proper flag etiquette and ceremony safety protocols is required during retirement ceremonies.

Most of our programs have been developed by identifying needs within our community.

Ideas are discussed collaboratively with our Board and volunteers then voted on before implementation.

Individual donations, sponsorships, grants, fundraising events, and community partnerships.

• 83% Programs
• 7% Administration
• 10% Fundraising

9 months of planning, community partnerships, volunteer recruitment, safety meetings, sponsor outreach, media relations, and a lot of faith. People see the ceremony, but they don’t always see the hundreds of hours that go into making it happen.

Sustainability. Making sure we have the resources, volunteers, and funding necessary to continue growing while maintaining the quality and integrity of our ceremonies.

Education and outreach. We want to develop patriotism and flag etiquette programs for schools, youth organizations, and communities across the country.

Veterans, military families, Gold Star families, youth organizations, schools, civic groups, and anyone looking to properly retire an American flag.

Social media, community partnerships, word of mouth, media coverage, and our public ceremonies.

Veteran service organizations, schools, scouting organizations, civic groups, local businesses, and nonprofit organizations throughout our community.

There really isn’t one. One day I’m picking up donated flags, the next I’m meeting with sponsors or writing veteran biographies. Every day looks different.

Partnerships are everything. We simply could not accomplish our mission without the support of our community.

We’d love to expand our relationships with school systems, national veteran organizations, corporate sponsors, and patriotic organizations across the country.

It has exceeded anything I could have imagined. Every ceremony introduces us to new people who want to become part of the mission.

Learning to ask for help. Veterans are often wired to accomplish the mission ourselves, but nonprofits thrive because communities come together to support something bigger than any one person.

That nonprofits run themselves or that volunteers are free. It takes resources, planning, leadership, and funding to effectively serve the community.

I would like people to understand that an American flag is never “just a flag.” It represents generations of sacrifice, service, and freedom. It deserves to be retired with the same dignity with which it was flown.

Ten years from now, I hope Old Glory Retirement Foundation is recognized as a national leader in flag retirement education and veteran tribute ceremonies. Fifty years from now, I hope people don’t remember my name. I hope they simply know that when an American flag has reached the end of its service, Old Glory Retirement Foundation will ensure it is honored properly.

Don’t start a nonprofit because you think it’s a good idea. Start one because you cannot imagine not doing it. The mission must be bigger than you are. It takes passion and drive and a lot of it.

We don’t retire flags because they’re worn out. We retire them because they faithfully completed their service to our nation. In many ways, that’s exactly how we should honor our veterans. By remembering their stories and thanking them for their service long after their duty is done.