Folsom, Calif. – (Aug. 26, 2026) – The numbers are out and SAFE employees and members of the credit union’s VALOR (Veterans and Loved Ones Resource) employee resource group collected nearly 670 worn, old and tattered U.S. flags for proper retirement this summer.

The final count was tallied at a flag folding event held at SAFE’s corporate office in Folsom Aug. 18.

“We collected 667 flags this year,” says SAFE Credit Union Senior Compliance Analyst and VALOR Co-Lead Jaimie Elpedes, who organized the tri-corner flag folding event held in the credit union’s California Room. “On folding day we folded 428 flags in two hours with 47 employee volunteers.”

This year’s collection topped last year’s numbers by nearly 33 percent in under two months. Last year, VALOR collected a little over 500 flags in nearly three months.

“The number of flags collected this year are a testament to just how many SAFE members and members of the public feel connected to the U.S. flag and want to make sure that they are cared for and retired properly,” says SAFE Credit Union Vice President IT Operations Robert Paduano who served 12 years in the California National Guard.

The now annual flag collection drive provides designated drop-off bins at SAFE’s 18 branches, the credit union’s corporate office and the Aerospace Museum of California at McClellan Park in North Highlands. The drive ran from Memorial Day weekend, coinciding with Flag Day in June, and wrapped up before July.

VALOR folded each flag in the respectful tri-corner fold method and gave them to Folsom’s Veterans of Foreign Wars #6604 post, where they ensure each flag is retired properly under the U.S. Flag Code.

“We are proud to be able to provide this service for those who aren’t sure what to do with their U.S. flags once they are damaged or too old to be put up for dignified display,” says Paduano, VALOR’s executive sponsor. “This collection provides them with the peace of mind that their flags will be retired under the U.S. Flag Code.”

VALOR is one of eight employee resource groups at SAFE committed to building a workplace where everyone feels respected, valued and connected. Additional employee resource groups include B@S (Black at SAFE), BRIDGE (Building Relationships, Inspiring Dialogue and Generational Engagement), EmpowHERment, and The Village for working parents and caretakers.

Although people don’t need to be associated with the military anymore to be a member of SAFE, the credit union has an honored history with the armed services. Eighty-six years ago, SAFE began operating with a branch for U.S. Army Air Corps civilian personnel in 1940.

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