Tue, 09/16/2014 - 5:00pm

SUSAN JOHNS, Assistant Editor

Wiscasset High School Student Council Vice President Kayla Gordon, left, and President Ridge Barnes sit with the school’s collection jar for funds to buy a new American flag for the school gym. SUSAN JOHNS/Wiscasset Newspaper

This American flag draping a wall of the Wiscasset High School gym will be replaced with a new one when about $150 has been raised to make the purchase, Principal Cheri Towle said. SUSAN JOHNS/Wiscasset Newspaper

An effort is under way at Wiscasset High School to replace the American flag long hanging on a gym wall. Buying the new one will take about $150, Principal Cheri Towle said.

The in-school collection started with an assembly on Sept. 10, Towle said. As of Sept. 15, more than $30 had been raised.

Towle didn’t know the flag’s age or how long it has been at the school. Science teacher Ralph Keyes worked on the large flag over the summer but it still is looking worn, she said.

Plans call for American Legion Post 54 of Wiscasset to conduct a retirement ceremony for the old flag after its replacement is bought.

Any money left over will go to the Legion’s project of buying flags to hang along routes 1 and 27 and then replacing them as needed.

Student Council President Ridge Barnes and Vice President Kayla Gordon, both seniors, said replacing the flag in the gym is a good project for students to get involved in.

“It’s nice that our school is raising that money, because (the new flag) will represent our school in a better way,” Gordon said.

Towle hopes the school can get the new flag in time for Veterans Day on Nov. 11, so that the old flag can be retired that day. Donations toward the purchase may be sent to Wiscasset High School, 272 Gardiner Road, Wiscasset, ME 04578.