Old Glory respectfully retired
Members of American Legion Post 29, Sons of American Legion and Boy Scout Troop 3766 came together for a flag retirement ceremony on Saturday afternoon.
The groups gathered behind the American Legion Community Building for a brief ceremony, during which the Boy Scouts honor guard presented the colors and led the pledge of allegiance and a prayer.
The American Legion adopted a ritual for destroying unservicable American flags during its 1937 national convention, according to the national organization’s website, www.legion. org/flag/ceremony. The purpose of the ceremony is to encourage proper respect for the flag and to dispose of unservicable flags in a dignified manner, the website states.
American Legion Post 29 held flag retirement ceremonies several years ago, but this is the first time the organization has partnered with the Sons of the American Legion and Boy Scout Troop 3766 to dispose of the flags, according to Stuart Reeves, commander of Sons of the American Legion and a member of American Legion Post 29.
“This banner of freedom before you is worn, tattered and soiled from usage of age,” Reeves read during the ceremony. “Her broad stripes are no longer a
fiery red and pure white, but faded and worn out. The stars and blue background are no longer vivid reminders of our blue skies and great land, of the purity, vigilance and justice she should represent. She has flown proudly over the years and has done her job well, but she must be replaced with a new flag to properly represent this great nation of ours.”