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Fishkill Rotary dedicates flag-retirement box at Veterans Day ceremony
Summary
Rotary Club members, veterans and local officials gathered in Fishkill on Veterans Day to dedicate a new flag-retirement receptacle. Speakers included Rotary president Melinda Potter and the town director of veterans affairs; a flag flown Sept. 11, 2025, was presented and will be retired with other worn flags.
Fishkill — The Fishkill Rotary Club on Veterans Day dedicated a new flag-retirement receptacle outside Village Hall, drawing veterans, Rotarians and local officials for a short ceremony that featured music, prayers and personal remembrances.
Rotary president Melinda Potter opened and closed the event and asked the club and community to use the new box to “ensure every worn or faded flag is laid to rest with the respect it deserves.” She thanked local donors and partners who helped fund and install the receptacle.
An inspector from the Port Authority Police Department presented a flag that, according to the inscription, was flown on Sept. 11, 2025 and donated on behalf of Edward T. Sentinar, Superintendent of Police. The presentation was met with applause.
A retired U.S. Marine Corps veteran who addressed the crowd described the personal significance of the flag and displayed a family flag dating to 1918 as an example of the kinds of flags the Rotary aims to retire properly. “Being a veteran is something that is earned and can never be taken away,” the speaker said, urging those present to honor the flag through service to community and country.
Virgil Capillary, identified as the town director of veterans affairs, thanked volunteers and organizers, highlighted Fishkill’s military history and urged residents to model respectful behavior for children. Robera Thes, a Rotarian, offered a dedication blessing; Father Hartley Bankraftoft led an invocation earlier in the program.
Organizers said the Rotary will coordinate future flag-retirement events, including a planned Flag Day observance during which collected flags will be retired in a formal ceremony. Attendees were invited inside Village Hall for refreshments at the close of the ceremony.
The short, community-focused event combined musical performances, including the national anthem and "God Bless America," with remarks from veterans and local civic leaders. No formal votes or municipal actions were taken.
