JAY – The Veterans of Foreign Wars’ Frank L. Mitchell Post No. 3335 was recently the recipient of two casket-sized American flags donated by a Jean Adomites of Carnegie, Pa.

In what VFW POW/MIA Chairman John Dube called “a good dedication for an already deceased veteran,” the new flags will for the first time be raised by the Jay VFW.

“We’re real honored and pleased,” said Dube of the two new flags. Dube also made sure to point out that the real honor is to be able to remember the veterans.

The flags donated by Adomites had once covered the caskets of her late husband, John, and younger sibling Harry.

John C. Adomites was a World War II veteran, having served in the Navy as a radar man aboard an aircraft carrier. He died Aug. 3, 1993, at the age of 83, and was buried with full military honors.

The other flag belongs to World War II veteran Harry G. Heidenreich Jr., who served in Germany with the 12th Armored Division when he was 18. After a crippling stroke in 1992, Heidenreich died on July 27, 1994, at the age of 68, and was buried with full military honors.

Dube encourages the donation of veterans’ flags to local VFWs, seeing that they not only represent our country, but also commemorate the soldiers themselves. A full-sized flag can cost upwards of $150, so rather than come up with that money each time a flag needs replacing, Dube says he is more than honored to accept any donation of a veteran’s casket flag.

“This is real grassroots,” said Dube.

Since April, Dube has received three donated flags and he has hopes of receiving more. Before any of the donated flags are flown over the POW-MIA Monument of All Wars, the family of the deceased veteran is notified. After a small program, those who donated the flags are asked to give information regarding the veteran’s military service, civilian career, and their date of death.

Anyone wishing to donate his or her loved one’s casket-sized flag, is asked to call Dube at 897-5335.

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