Building Respect: Tea graduate creates flag drop box to serve community and honor veteran

A senior project has taught one Tea man the importance of working with your hands and honoring those that came before him.

Isaac Slowey graduated from Tea Area High School in May. The 18-year-old enjoys playing basketball, fishing and hanging out with friends for one last summer before heading to Southeast Technical College to major in business. 

Slowey, like all Tea Area High School students was required to complete a senior project as part of his graduation requirements. 

“I didn’t want to do just anything, I wanted to think of something creative because the only requirements for the assignment were that it be unique and you had to complete your research paper,” Slowey said.

The Senior took his time in finding the project he wanted to define his high school career. Finally, honoring those that came before him sparked an idea. 

“I chose to make a flag drop off box because my grandpa, Richard Slowey, was a proud Marine veteran and he has inspired me to start helping veterans in my community,” he said.

Learning flags were previously in plastic bags to be left at the Legion, Slowey wanted a proper home for the flags to be placed. 

“In the past, people knew that the Legion would properly take care of the flags, but didn’t have a proper place to store them. Finding a solution to this problem both completed my assignment and was my way of showing respect to our veterans and the flag by creating a drop box,” Slowey said.

To complete the assignment, Slowey knew he would need to enlist the help of even more family members. 

“My uncle, Dan Slowey, who is also a veteran, helped me look at different types of boxes that have been done before in different communities. After looking at quite a few, he helped me decide which type I wanted to use for this project because I wanted something that would look as nice as possible for as long as possible,” Slowey said.

To make the project go smooth and learn as much about the trade as he could, Slowey put together a team who worked together for nearly six weeks, to construct flag drop box they are proud of. 

“Will Dose from Dose’s Custom Cabinets was my mentor through this whole process. He helped with the construction of the box. Mark Puterbaugh is my uncle and he helped me with the metal frame and welding of the piece. I wanted it to be on a stand to keep it off the ground. The dedication plaque and metal sign were donated by 2 Brothers Fabrication from Lennox and all the help was greatly appreciated,” he said.

Blood, sweat, and tears went into the project, and are the very thing the flag stands for and soldiers fought for. Presenting the flag box to the Legion members was an honor Slowey does not take lightly. 

“It was an honor to present the flag box to the Tea Legion. There were several people at the presentation and they all had smiles and were coming up and saying thank you for building the drop off box,” Slowey said.

One school assignment taught Slowey life lessons in community building, project completion, and pride in his country through building a flag drop box. 

“I learned so much about the veterans in the area including how hard working and honest they are and that making this flag drop off box was a way for me to show respect for our country and to show respect for them putting their lives at stake serving the military,” he said.

Hoping people of all ages follow in his footsteps, Slowey encourages everyone to find a place in their community they can make a little better. 

“It is important to help and give back to our community. This was important to me because I could fill a need in honor of my grandfather. It meant a lot to give something to our veterans that have worked hard to defend our country,” Slowey said.