Miller shares story with Exchange Club

Jeremiah Miller, owner of 4-Season Apparel and Free Flags for Vets, was the guest speaker at the regular Exchange Club meeting Tuesday, Aug. 8 at noon at El Tequila restaurant in Waseca. 

Miller was at the meeting to talk about his non-profit organization, Free Flags for Veterans. Miller described being out on a run sometime in 2017 and noticing a lot of United States flags looking tattered and very worn. As a veteran himself, this concerned Miller, who posted on Facebook saying he wanted to start a way to give free flags to veterans. Receiving a lot of support for his idea, Miller acquired $5,000 within only a few months. With the startup help, he was able to present his organization’s first flag to the family of Caleb Erickson.

While Free Flags for Veterans started to become more and more successful, he realized that while he had been shipping flags all over the United States, he wanted it to have more impact locally.

He started looking into buying flag poles as well and eventually the Boy Scouts became involved helping to install poles all over Waseca throughout the summer. 

During the pandemic, Miller applied to become a non-profit and was approved. He created a board of directors which includes his wife, daughter, and other veteran friends. The new board worked on upgrading the poles, so they started buying them through Service First, a veteran owned pole company. 

Miller explained to the Exchange Club how Free Flags for Vets uses a website to receive applications–a process Miller says is quite easy. Miller also said that if people wanted to donate to the cause, they can do so through Venmo; eventually Miller hopes to be able to use other services as well. 

Right now, Free Flags for Veterans has more than 100 applicants: Every eligible applicant receives a flag, but poles given only on a first-come, first-served basis. Miller also said that older vets may get priority in the process. 

Among other things, Miller said that he would like to improve the educational piece in the process of raising flags and flag poles. A lot of people don’t understand the protocols for displaying a flag. For example, a flag should never remain posted in the dark unless it is illuminated, which is why Miller provides LED solar lights along with poles. 

Hearing this, one of the Exchange Club members mentioned that they might have an educational pamphlet on the exact subject that they would be happy to provide. 

Miller explained that he also works for Anderson Windows, who helps with former Minnesota Viking Jared Allen’s nonprofit, Homes for Wounded Warriors. Through this connection, Miller has been able to be the official provider of flags and flag poles for all the homes built through the Homes for Wounded Warriors nonprofit. 

For people who are looking for ways to help veterans, Miller says people should be sure to say “thank you” to the vets and listen if they wish to tell their story, something that can mean a lot.