The Erie County Fair has announced that it will bring back the Flag Retreat Ceremony for the 2023 Erie County Fair. Applications to receive a flag can be found at the Made In America Store's locations.

The Erie County Fair, one of the largest county fairs in the United States, has announced that it will be honoring veterans and active duty military personnel with a special Flag Retreat Ceremony this year. The ceremony will be held in partnership with the Made In America Store, a retail store that specializes in selling products made in the United States and donated each flag for the ceremony.

The Flag Retreat Ceremony is a time-honored tradition in the military, where the American flag is lowered at the end of the day and folded with care. It is a way to honor the flag and the sacrifices made by those who have served their country. The ceremony is typically performed on military bases, but the Erie County Fair is bringing the tradition to its fairgrounds again.

“Our daily flag retreat ceremony has become a tradition of our fair that we look forward to hosting again this year,” said Jessica Underberg, Erie County Fair CEO. “We are proud to honor the veterans and active service members that have long protected our country each night of the fair. We are asking fairgoers to pause and reflect on our great nation and to remember the men and women for their service, sacrifice and dedication to protecting our country. We feel this is a wonderful way to extend the mission of our Veterans Day committee to span the entire fair.”

The ceremony will take place at 6 p.m. every day of the fair, from August 9th to August 20th. During the ceremony, a member of the military or a veteran will be chosen to lower the flag while a bugler plays "Taps." The ceremony will be open to the public, and all veterans and active duty military personnel are invited to attend.

In addition to the Flag Retreat Ceremony, the Erie County Fair and the Made In America Store will be offering other special events and discounts for veterans and active duty military personnel throughout the fair. This includes a military appreciation day on Sunday, August 13, where all veterans and active duty military personnel will receive free admission to the fair.

The partnership between the Erie County Fair and the Made In America Store is a natural fit, as both organizations are committed to supporting American-made products and honoring those who have served their country. The Made In America Store will have a popup shop at the fair where they will be selling their products, which are all 100% made in the United States.

The Erie County Fair is expecting a large turnout for this year's fair, as people are eager to get back to enjoying community events after the pandemic. By honoring veterans and active duty military personnel, the fair is not only paying tribute to those who have served their country but also showing its commitment to the community and the values that make America great.

"For Americans, there's no higher honor than to serve our nation's military,” said Mark Andol, founder and owner of Made In America Stores. “As Americans, there's no greater privilege than to say thank you. We are proud to support a continuing tradition at the fair."