Ceremony will be held at 12 p.m. at
Veterans Memorial Park
By Robert Seibert
Guest writer
As we near the Fourth of July, many are putting up new American flags and taking down their old faded and torn flags. What do you do with it when it's old and ratty and you're ready for a new one? Don't just throw it in the trash like any other old item, that's considered disrespectful. According to the U.S. Flag Code, “The flag, when it is in such a condition that it is no longer a fitting emblem for display should be destroyed in a dignified way, preferably by burning.”
Rules on how to properly fly the flag were established in June 1923 when the National Flag Conference met in Washington. Its members created the Flag Code which states that "the flag represents a living country and is itself considered a living thing." The U.S. flag is considered such a sacred symbol that burning it in an undignified manner constitutes desecration. The American Legion passed a resolution about flag retirement ceremonies in 1937 and they've been an important ritual ever since. According to the resolution, "The approved method of disposing of unserviceable flags has long been that they be destroyed by burning."
Every year on June 14, Americans celebrate Flag Day. Not surprisingly it's considered the most appropriate day to hold flag disposal ceremonies.
“This ceremony is important. Many people do not know how to retire a flag that is no longer serviceable,” said Phil Cantley, commander of the Sons of the American Legion. The flag retirement service will be at the Veterans Memorial Park by the ballfields at 12 p.m. on Friday, June 14.
Everyone is invited to attend this service and learn proper disposal of unusable flags. Local American Legion Post 532 has several drop sites for faded and tattered or torn flags. The current drop points are the library, Chamber of Commerce and Clay County Progress.