The American flag is a symbol that all Americans recognize.

It stands for freedom and for those who fought so we could enjoy that freedom.For many families who have lost a veteran loved one, the American flag symbolizes so much more.It represents love, commitment and sacrifice of someone they loved.An American flag is draped over every veteran’s casket during his or her funeral and then folded and presented to the family as they say their final farewells at the cemetery.Following the funeral, many of those flags are kept folded and placed somewhere safe, either in a display case or packed away, never to see the light of day again.But what if you could give that flag, and all it stands for with regard to the man or woman whose casket it adorned, a second chance to wave proudly in the breeze?Henry Desrosiers, Carbon County Veterans Affairs director, is hoping to do just that.Families can donate flags to Indiantown Gap National Cemetery, where they will fly that flag proudly between Memorial Day and Veterans Day.Carbon County is currently a collection site for these flags and will bring them to the cemetery in Annville before Memorial Day.Desrosiers said the idea to begin this collection began last December after he received a request from a neighboring county’s Veterans Affairs director, who was contacted by the cemetery asking for interment flags.He said that Indiantown Gap National Cemetery has flagpoles designed to fly casket flags, which are 5½ feet by 9 feet. This display is called the Avenue of Flags, a patriotic display that begins at the main entrance of the cemetery and winds its way through the vast final resting place of thousands of United States veterans, and commemorates the fallen and pays homage to those who served this country.At one time, the cemetery had hundreds of interment flags donated for this purpose, but over the years donations have dwindled to just a few.Desrosiers realized that his father’s flag would fit the program’s criteria.Staff Sgt. Maurice J. Desrosiers served the United States Army and Air Corp during World War II.He passed away in 1980 at the age of 58. Since then, his flag has sat mostly quiet, except for the few times when his son takes it to Scout programs to show how to properly fold an American flag.“I thought about it and then emailed my two sisters and told them about what I was interested in doing with dad’s flag,” he said. “They gave me their blessing.“What better way to honor our father than to donate it and have his flag fly in a national cemetery where thousands of veterans are buried.”Desrosiers thought that there may be others who feel the same as he does and has decided to ask the public.“My intent is to try and see if I can get 50 to 100 flags donated before Memorial Day,” he said. “The cemetery is happy to get a few. I would like to get a big bundle and bring them down and present them.”So far, in addition to his father’s flag, Desrosiers has received two others — one from Karen Ernst of Palmerton memorializing her father, Maynard J. Ernst, and one from Beverly Wynn of Lehighton memorializing her father, Peter Oleksyn Jr.Desrosiers said if families would like to donate a loved one’s casket flag, they can contact his office, located on the second floor of the courthouse annex in Jim Thorpe, at 570-325-3986 or stop in during business hours.Flags must be in good condition and must be a casket flag due to the size specifications.“I think this is a good way to put these flags back to use,” he said. “I was proud to have my dad’s flag but I think I’m going to feel a whole lot prouder when it is flying in Indiantown Gap National Cemetery. It has a purpose again.“What better way to remember a loved one than to have their flag fly,” he said.