Boy Scout Troop pairs with American Legion to bestow honor of retiring American flags
CHICORA — In honor of Flag Day, Boy Scout Troop 217 held its annual flag-retirement ceremony at the Chicora Municipal Park on Wednesday, June 14.
Troop 217 partnered with American Legion Post 642 to “properly and respectfully dispose of flags of our country that have been worn out in worthy service,” David Fleeger, the post’s commander, said.
“Chicora’s post office and a couple other places collect the flags that are beyond their life, throughout the year,” Fleeger said. “You just don’t throw the American flag in the garbage. There’s a procedure. We burn them patriotically.”
This year there was estimated to be over 1,000 flags that were to be retired at Wednesday’s ceremony.
“There’s not really anything in this immediate community to provide proper retirement for flags,” Daniel Serafine, committee member for Troop 217, said. “So we always go in partnership with the legion here every year and make sure we do the best that we can to make it as honorable as possible.”
CHICORA — In honor of Flag Day, Boy Scout Troop 217 held its annual flag-retirement ceremony at the Chicora Municipal Park on Wednesday, June 14.
Troop 217 partnered with American Legion Post 642 to “properly and respectfully dispose of flags of our country that have been worn out in worthy service,” David Fleeger, the post’s commander, said.
“Chicora’s post office and a couple other places collect the flags that are beyond their life, throughout the year,” Fleeger said. “You just don’t throw the American flag in the garbage. There’s a procedure. We burn them patriotically.”
This year there was estimated to be over 1,000 flags that were to be retired at Wednesday’s ceremony.
“There’s not really anything in this immediate community to provide proper retirement for flags,” Daniel Serafine, committee member for Troop 217, said. “So we always go in partnership with the legion here every year and make sure we do the best that we can to make it as honorable as possible.”
The retiring of an American flag included a presentation of the colors by the color guard of the American Legion, an inspection by the youth and adult leaders of the troop, the playing of taps by the troop bugler, and destruction of the flags by fire.
“The flag may be a flimsy bit of printed gauze or a banner of the finest silver,” scout leader Evan Peterson said during the ceremony. “It’s intrinsic value may be trifling or great, but it’s value is beyond price. It’s a previous symbol of all the veterans and patriots live for, worked for and die for a free nation of free men.”
After all the flags been burned, the ashes are collected and taken to hallowed ground to be buried.
George Brothers, finance officer of the post, thinks this ceremony was not just a way to honor Old Glory, but also an ample opportunity to teach the young men of Troop 217 about civil service and respecting those that served this country.
“I believe they gained a little bit of respect for our country and the flag,” Brothers said. “Not everything is going to be perfect, it never was and never will be, but you’re a part of this organization, we call the United States. You need to show some respect to it, not a slavish devotion, but respect and honor the people that have gone before us.”
Peterson also believes his scouts were able to gain something valuable from taking part of this experience.
“It gives them a little more respect for the country and the veterans,” Peterson said. “They see these old fellas that are still willing to come out here and do this kind of stuff with us and it shows them there’s more to it than just a piece of cloth.”
