Flag Day: A day to commemorate ‘Old Glory’
The American flag, also known as “Old Glory” is more than than cloth depicting American territory. It’s a symbol of freedom, honor, patriotism, sacrifice and so much more. It’s one of the reasons why after an American flag has outlived its lifespan, it isn’t discarded, but retired in a patriotic and respectful manner.
As part of commemorating Flag Day and the National Flag Week, the American Legion Post No. 25 will host a flag retirement ceremony Wednesday to share with the community the most appropriate and respectful way to retire a U.S. flag.
The ceremony will take place at the Veterans Memorial at Bucklin Park on Wednesday during Flag Day at 7 p.m. Members of the community are invited to participate in the American Legion style ceremony to retire their own flags that have become damaged after flying and being displayed over time.
According to American Legion Past Post 25 Commander and incoming District 30 Commander Tracy Rascoe, the organization has been doing a small flag retirement ceremony for a few years but now wanted to take advantage of the Veterans Memorial at Bucklin Park to make the ceremony more inclusive and open for the community.
“Our goal is for this ceremony to become a tradition,” Rascoe said. “We’re expecting to do flag retirements at least once a year on Flag Day but will do it more if we have to.”
Also part of the flag retirement ceremony will be the “My Name is Old Glory” poem written in honor of the U.S. flag. The objective is to have a down to earth and heartfelt patriotic ceremony.
The ceremony will be done in partnership with the city of El Centro in which both hope it becomes a local tradition.
Councilman Jason Jackson said he is looking forward to the event bringing the community together to be part of a tradition that not many are aware of.
“It is extremely important, many of those traditions have become lost with time,” Jackson said.
Jackson said he first became aware of the proper manner to handle and retire the U.S. flag when he was a Boy Scout, he added the ceremony will be a positive step to make the public aware of the tradition.
For Rascoe, a veteran of the Armed Forces, said that while overseas he recalls a moment in which he looked at the U.S. flag and questioned whether he’d be able to see it again back home.
“It is an honor to be able to do something to help youth and people of all ages and impact them in a positive way as a reminder of appreciation for our symbols,” Rascoe said. “Honoring our national symbols and taking the time to appreciate the freedoms granted to us by our great nation is extremely important.”
CR&R Environmental Services who is sponsoring the event will provide a bin in which the retired flags can be disposed of in a proper and safe manner. Jackson said he hopes to reach out to school districts in the future to allow the younger generation to take part of the ceremony and learn more about the patriotic symbols.