The Melissa Interact Club teamed up with local Rotary members to inspect, sort, and repair American flags in preparation for the 2026 Flag Program. Students and Rotarians worked side by side—checking fabric, fixing seams, organizing poles, and preparing worn flags for retirement. By the end of the day, they had restored order to the flag inventory and strengthened the sense of community service that connects the two groups.
The sun had barely risen over Melissa when the Inter
act Club members began filing into the Rotary storage unit, their laughter echoing between the metal walls. Dust motes drifted in the warm beams of morning light, illuminating the stacks of bundled American flags waiting for attention. The 2026 Flag Program was approaching fast, and today was all about preparation.
Rotary members were already there—clipboards in hand, coffee cups steaming, and decades of community service etched into their easy smiles. They greeted the students like teammates rather than trainees, and the room quickly filled with the hum of shared purpose.
“Alright, team,” said Mr. Schell, one of the Rotarians, “today we inspect, sort, and load for repair. Every flag we put out this year should fly proudly.”
The Interact students paired off with Rotary mentors. Some unfolded flags checking for frayed edges or faded stripes. Others sorted poles, replaced worn-out fasteners, or rolled flags into crisp bundles. The work was steady, but the conversations were lively—stories of past flag placements, jokes about tangled ropes, and the occasional friendly debate about which team could finish their stack first.
Within hours, the storage unit looked transformed. Sorted piles stood neatly labeled: Ready to Fly, Needs Repair, Retire with Honor. The students stepped back, admiring the progress. It wasn’t glamorous work, but it mattered—and they could feel it. These flags would fly in front of homes and businesses all over Melissa—symbols of unity, gratitude, and community pride.
Before everyone packed up, the Rotarians gathered the Interact members for a quick group photo. Flags in hand, dusty from work, smiling wide—they looked like a team that had accomplished something real.
“Thank you,” said Rotary President Dana Conklin. “You’re not just helping with a project. You’re helping uphold a tradition that brings our whole community together.”
As the students headed out, tired but proud, they knew they’d be back. The 2026 Flag Program was coming, and Melissa would be ready—thanks to a partnership built on service, respect, and the simple joy of working side by side.