Rotary volunteer describes 'Stars for Our Troops' program after Fishkill flag‑retirement ceremony

Rotary volunteer Eddie Colon told the Village of Fishkill board about a local veterans program that collects old American flags, conducts a respectful retirement ceremony and cuts stars from retired flags to give to veterans and first responders.

Colon described last Sunday’s Flag Day ceremony as a larger-scale retirement event in which volunteers burned roughly 1,600 flags that had been collected since the installation of a flag‑retirement box. He said the group also distributed a large number of small cut stars — made from the flag’s field of stars — to veterans, active-duty service members and first-responder families.

Colon said the effort raised $897 for veterans and collected about 100 pounds of food during a recent drive. He recounted particularly emotional responses from recipients — including World War II and Vietnam veterans — and explained the careful process the group uses to remove the canton (blue field) before cutting the stars so the pieces are no longer considered a flag.

A Rotary representative at the meeting explained the program’s rules: stars are produced only from U.S.‑made flags with embroidered stars, and the finished star includes a small card explaining the gift’s meaning. The Rotary has coordinated production and distribution and enlisted local volunteers and a printing partner to prepare cards and cut pieces.

The presenter said the program plans additional distributions to VA hospitals and firefighting homes and invited the board to include stars at the village’s Veterans Day ceremony. Chair and trustees thanked Colon and said they welcomed the project.