The Rev. Cam Malcolm considers the flag a valuable piece of American history. His church, the Natrona Heights Presbyterian Church, reflects that belief.
Through a partnership with Boy Scout Troop 395, the church has amassed a collection of 160 flags from American history, from the Revolutionary War to World War II.
"The whole collection is a reminder of our heritage," Malcolm said. "It celebrates the past, and it also educates people in the present as to the American journey. The hope is that in celebrating it and preserving it, we preserve something of the intent of the Founders of the country to go on into the future."
The flags, which hang in the church's sanctuary, are not displayed year-round. The sanctuary has room for up to 18 flags, which Malcolm displays at "high times" of the year, such as Scout Sunday, Veterans Sunday and Columbus Day.
The church displays the flags from Memorial Day through the Fourth of July. That month-plus span includes Flag Day, which is today.
When the flags aren't hanging in the church, Malcolm stores them in a room adjacent to his office.
Malcolm takes the flags out for flag shows, where he teaches Scout troops or schools about the history of the flags.
The collection began after Malcolm took a trip to Valley Forge in 1998 and saw Revolutionary War flags flying in the Episcopalian chapel, which he noticed had a similar setup to his church.
"I looked at it and thought, 'Good Lord, we could do the same thing here,'" Malcolm said.
The church partnered with Troop 395 after Malcolm spoke with two troop leaders, Scoutmaster Larry Burton and Jack Maurer. Malcolm said the collection is known as the "Burton collection" in honor of the late scoutmaster.
Over the years, Malcolm said, the flag collection grew into one of the largest around. He said the church's collection dwarfs even that of Pittsburgh's Flag Plaza.
Malcolm said the collection will continue to grow as long as people are interested in sponsoring flags.
"It gives me a good feeling that there are a lot of people out there who are patriotic and have a sense for history," he said. "The flags are the American story, and you can tell the entire history of the country through the flags."
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