Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Flag Rescue Program topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
St. Johns County’s flag rescue program collected 7,757 flags in 2025; St. Augustine Beach hosts drop box
Summary
During "Mondays with the Mayor," St. Augustine Beach Mayor Beth Sweeney and Chris Benjamin of St. Johns County described the American Flag Rescue Program, which began in September 2018, now operates 35 collection boxes across the county and holds monthly VFW retirement ceremonies.
St. Augustine Beach — St. Johns County’s American Flag Rescue Program collected 7,757 flags in 2025, program overseer Chris Benjamin said Monday during the City of St. Augustine Beach’s "Mondays with the Mayor." Mayor Beth Sweeney introduced Benjamin and noted the city hosts one of the program’s donation boxes at City Hall.
Benjamin said the program began in September 2018, and between that start and September 2019 the county collected 154 flags. "The program started in, September 2018," he said, and in the first year "we collected a 154 flags." He credited local radio station WSOS with purchasing the original, larger collection boxes used to launch the effort.
The initiative grew after program staff found American flags being discarded at Tillman Ridge Landfill, Benjamin said, leaving residents without a reliable local option for respectful retirement. "We started developing the program...because we found American flags going into the trash at Tillman Ridge Landfill," he said.
Benjamin said the county now has 35 collection boxes distributed throughout St. Johns County, and that when the program switched to smaller boxes they saw an uptick in donations. He also noted participation from locations on Anastasia Island, including contributions from the City of St. Augustine Beach.
Residents who wish to observe or help with the decommissioning ceremonies can go to the VFW on Route 1 South on the third Saturday of each month, Benjamin said. "We have burned barrels. All the flags are burned. And there's a honor guard, and the veterans and non veterans alike are invited to participate in the process," he said.
Sweeney closed the segment by reminding residents they can drop worn American flags at City Hall’s donation box for proper decommissioning and thanking Benjamin for joining the program.
The program’s next steps were not discussed beyond continued collection and monthly retirements; no formal votes or policy changes were recorded during the segment.
