News : Veterans, Scouts retire worn flags

Scouts and veterans retired unserviceable flags Friday evening.

The American Legion Post 57 veterans, with the assistance of Troop 47 Scouts, performed a flag retirement ceremony Friday night outside the Legion Hall. Dozens of unserviceable flags were retired by burning. The Scouts and vets saluted the flag before Rex Shepherd explained the meaning of the flag, and that ceremony.

“A Flag may be a flimsy bit of printed gauze, or a beautiful banner of finest silk. Its intrinsic value may be trifling or great; but its real value is beyond price, for it is a precious symbol of all that we and our comrades have worked for and lived for, and died for a free Nation of free men, true to the faith of the past, devoted to the ideals and practice of Justice, Freedom and Democracy.

“Let these faded Flags of our Country be retired and destroyed with respectful and honorable rites and their places be taken by bright new Flags of the same size and kind, and let no grave of our soldier or sailor dead be unhonored and unmarked. Sergeant-at-Arms, assemble the Color Guard, escort the detail bearing the Flags and destroy these Flags by burning. The members shall stand at attention.”

The ceremony also included the following prayer: “Almighty God, Captain of all hosts and Commander over all, bless and consecrate this present hour.We thank Thee for our Country and its Flag, and for the liberty for which it stands. “To clean and purging flame we commit these Flags, worn out in worthy service. As they yield their substance to the fire, may Thy Holy Light spread over us and bring to our hearts renewed devotion to God and Country. Amen.”