What is a Donate Life Flag Raising Event?
Donate Life flags serve as a nationwide display of hope and remembrance honoring those who gave the gift of eye, organ, and tissue donation. When the Donate Life flag is on display, it is in honor and support for those who selflessly gave the gift of donation.
By Niko Soriano - April 11, 2025
You may have heard of your local hospital hosting a flag raising event in April for Donate Life Month. What you may not know is that these are dedicated to those who became eye, organ, and tissue donors after death, providing the ultimate gifts in restoring sight and saving lives. The gifts of sight make their way through our Colorado and Wyoming service area and internationally, giving hope in places where it may have been lost. The recipients of donated gifts are bestowed a second chance at life, another opportunity to reach their next lofty goal in life and exist in a way that they’ve only dreamed about.
The Community, Partners and Hospitals Make Donate Life Flag Raisings Possible
Flag raising ceremonies, hosted alongside our partners in donation and transplantation, Donor Alliance, bring together hospital staff, donor families, transplant recipients, community members, registered donors and others passionate about the cause and provides an opportunity to hear from a donor family member or an eye, organ or tissue recipient. Medical professionals sometimes share their experience with donors, recipients and their families. The stories shared inspire and put into perspective the impact that we can all have on one another, even in the midst of tragedy. A common thread among these stories is gratitude. This collective feeling resonates deeply among the audience members, and represents the truly intrinsic motivation to help another.
Shared Experiences of Donation and Gratitude are a Common Thread
After several shared stories and a short prayer, the Donate Life flag is raised and stays up until the end of April. Audience members linger and share their experiences, the common thread between them and the impact that donation has made on their lives professionally or personally. Often, we, the Rocky Mountain Lions Eye Bank (RMLEB) host a booth in conjunction with Donor Alliance and share refreshments, giveaway items and donation information.
Sometimes, this event can help motivate one to join the registry or compel someone to share the stories they’ve heard simply because it was meaningful. We encourage all to share in the community-feeling at these events and consider building bridges within your own family by talking about eye, organ, and tissue donation with your loved ones. RMLEB is proud to participate in these events. This is truly the spirit of Donate Life Month and we invite you to join us at a flag raising event near you this month!
Go Back The Community, Partners and Hospitals Make Donate Life Flag Raisings Possible
Flag raising ceremonies, hosted alongside our partners in donation and transplantation, Donor Alliance, bring together hospital staff, donor families, transplant recipients, community members, registered donors and others passionate about the cause and provides an opportunity to hear from a donor family member or an eye, organ or tissue recipient. Medical professionals sometimes share their experience with donors, recipients and their families. The stories shared inspire and put into perspective the impact that we can all have on one another, even in the midst of tragedy. A common thread among these stories is gratitude. This collective feeling resonates deeply among the audience members, and represents the truly intrinsic motivation to help another.
Shared Experiences of Donation and Gratitude are a Common Thread
After several shared stories and a short prayer, the Donate Life flag is raised and stays up until the end of April. Audience members linger and share their experiences, the common thread between them and the impact that donation has made on their lives professionally or personally. Often, we, the Rocky Mountain Lions Eye Bank (RMLEB) host a booth in conjunction with Donor Alliance and share refreshments, giveaway items and donation information.
Sometimes, this event can help motivate one to join the registry or compel someone to share the stories they’ve heard simply because it was meaningful. We encourage all to share in the community-feeling at these events and consider building bridges within your own family by talking about eye, organ, and tissue donation with your loved ones. RMLEB is proud to participate in these events. This is truly the spirit of Donate Life Month and we invite you to join us at a flag raising event near you this month!