Folsom, Calif. – (Aug. 8, 2025) – SAFE Credit Union collected more than 500 flags during its second annual employee-led U.S. flag collection drive this summer.
SAFE employee resource group VALOR (Veterans and Loved Ones Resource) invited the community to bring aging and worn flags to its 17 branches in the Greater Sacramento area, its headquarters in Folsom, and at the Aerospace Museum of California.
More than 60 volunteers folded 206 U.S. flags at SAFE’s headquarters on Wednesday, Aug. 6 during their final day of sorting and preparing flags for retirement. The drive ran from Memorial Day weekend through July 30.
“We especially want to thank the community once again for assisting us in ensuring the respectful and proper retirement of worn and old flags,” says SAFE Credit Union Executive Vice President and VALOR executive sponsor SAFE Executive Vice President and Chief Technology Officer Mike McCarthy.
SAFE employees Tiffany Porter and Joseph Mayeux fold U.S. flags ready for retirement during VALOR’s (Veterans and Loved Ones Resource) Second Annual Flag Collection Drive.
“VALOR recognizes that our United States flag is not only an important symbol of our nation and military but has special meaning to many of our employees, members and those in our communities,” says McCarthy, a veteran of the California Army National Guard who served overseas deployments in Iraq and Afghanistan during his 12 years of active service. “We were so happy to find a useful and significant way to honor their own military service, as well as the services of their friends and family.”
VALOR is forwarding the collected flags to Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) Post 6604 in Folsom who is assisting in readying the flags to be then given to the American Legion Post 362 also in Folsom. The legion conducts and arranges retirement ceremonies in adherence to the U.S. Flag Code.
“My brother-in-law is retired from the Air Force, so I like to support the military where I can,” says SAFE Credit Union’s Vice President of Digital Banking and volunteer Danielle Juarez.
SAFE Credit Union Senior Loan Servicing Specialist Adam Jarrett says he volunteered in recognition of both of his grandfathers, one who served during the Vietnam War and the other who was stationed in Germany. “It felt good to honor these flags and to give them a proper send off,” Jarrett says.
SAFE’s 85-year heritage stretches back its founding in 1940 to serve Army Air Corps personnel at what is now McClellan Park. While being a member of the credit union no longer requires military affiliation, SAFE proudly continues to celebrate and support its many employees and members who are active National Guard and reservists, veterans, and families of active and retired military.
For more information email [email protected].
SAFE Credit Union branches that participated in the flag drive:
• Antelope Branch, 7887 Walerga Road
• Citrus Heights Branch, 7475 Madison Ave.
• East Elk Grove Branch, 9312 Elk Grove Blvd.
• East Sacramento Branch, 6341 Folsom Blvd.
• El Camino Branch, 3560 El Camino Ave.
• Folsom Branch, 2740 Bidwell St.
• Hazel Branch, 5261 Hazel Ave.
• Laguna Branch, 9162 Bruceville Road in Elk Grove
• Land Park Branch, 4700 Freeport Blvd.
• Lincoln Branch, 111 Ferrari Ranch Road
• North Natomas Branch, 2761 Del Paso Road
• Rocklin Branch, 6190 Stanford Ranch Road
• Roseville Branch, 121 N. Sunrise Ave.
• Sunrise Branch, 7601 Sunrise Blvd.
• Watt Branch, 4636 Watt Ave. in North Highlands
• West Roseville Branch, 1541 Blue Oaks Blvd.
• West Sacramento Branch, 2105 Town Center Plaza
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About SAFE
SAFE Credit Union has made members an integral part of its vision since 1940. Over the years the credit union has kept the focus on what really matters, putting members first, a formula that has seen SAFE grow into a leading financial institution in Northern California with $4.3 billion in assets and about 244,000 members. SAFE crafts every cutting-edge product and sterling service with members’ needs foremost in mind. In addition to banking services conveniently available through online, chat, mobile, or phone options, SAFE offers in-person services for members and small businesses at service centers across the Greater Sacramento region. SAFE is a not-for-profit, state-chartered credit union with membership open to businesses and individuals living or working in Sacramento, Placer, Yolo, El Dorado, Sutter, Butte, Nevada, Solano, San Joaquin, Contra Costa, Yuba, Amador, and Alameda counties. Equal Housing Opportunity Lender. Insured by NCUA. www.safecu.org