No symbol better signifies our nation's greatness than our American flag—the Stars and Stripes. The Proudly We Hail program encourages regular display of the flag by individuals, commercial establishments and industries. To honor them a specially designed plaque is presented at a club meeting. Every club member can participate in the program because it is the individual member who watches for and nominates potential recipients. This outstanding program promotes Americanism as well as community recognition by the sponsoring Exchange Club.

Purpose

No symbol inspires respect and love of country more than our American flag — the Stars and Stripes. That is why Exchange encourages all Americans to properly fly the flag as an ongoing, highly visible expression of that respect through the Proudly We Hail program.

Proudly We Hail honors those Americans who do display the nation’s banner properly and regularly. Recognition is in the form of a beautiful plaque specially designed for this purpose.

First, a club must decide to adopt the program. Once this is done, one member is appointed chairperson of the Proudly We Hail selection committee and each and every member of the club is made a committee member. As committee members, Exchangites, during their travels throughout the community, keep a sharp eye out for residences and office buildings where the American flag is regularly flown. Then, record the name and address of the candidate and check to see if the flag is indeed flown every day. When this is established, the name is submitted to the committee chairperson. Each month, one or more candidates are invited to a regular meeting of the club where they are ceremoniously presented with a plaque to display in their home or office.

Proudly We Hail is easy and effective. It represents a splendid way for every Exchange Club to actively support Exchange’s ongoing effort to encourage and promote American citizenship. And it provides a program in which every member is an active participant. Moreover, the program benefits both the community and the nation by enhancing and strengthening a national sense of patriotism and pride.