Posted on 06/15/2009 5:49:27 PM PDT by SandRat
Post Chaplain Wayne Rudell began the ceremony in honor of Flag Day with a prayer, “ ... Most gracious Lord, you have given to us the symbol of the flag to represent the United States in every nation when it is flown ... This flag has flown in every war and our flag is still flying in the middle of battles as a symbol of freedom for all who see it. Today it is time to retire the service of these flags and give them honor for their duty. We do this by burning each flag to put it in a final resting place.”
Members of the post have held many retirement services and with each one the flags are treated with respect and dignity no matter how tattered and torn they are. Sunday, the members were joined by Boy Scout Troop 431 to prepare the flags for burning.
“When the flags are no longer presentable to fly, people can bring them to us and we will retire them,” Commander David Marcks said.
Though there are different ways to retire the Stars and Stripes, the post chose the method of cutting the grommets, then each stripe leaving the field of blue with the stars.
After that was done, each stripe was deposited in the fire one-by-one without touching the ground. The ashes are buried with the grommets.
Boy Scouts George Watkins, Bradley Dean and Rylan Caparulo and Girl Scout Jadiz Caparulo from Troop 662, Sierra Vista, all participated in the ceremony.
Dean, who has participated in such services through his Scout troop, said about the ceremony, “It shows our respect for the flag.”
Scoutmaster Chad Dean explained that the cutting up of the flag is to turn it back into fabric so it doesn’t resemble a flag.
“The flag is our symbol of freedom and we remember the lives lost in serving that flag,” said VFW member Thomas Taggart.
Spc. Richard Botkin, Cpl. Jerry Chungas, 1st Lt. Andre Tyson, Spc. Michael Ottolini and Spc. Donald McCune, who have passed away, were honored at the service, as is traditional for the post. A vacant chair was left in remembrance of the servicemen.
Herald/Review reporter Shar Porier can be reached at 515-4692 or by e-mail at shar.porier@bisbeereview.net.
A member of Fort Huachuca Boy Scout Troop 431, George Watkins, uses scissors while fellow Scout Bradley Dean holds the American flag during a flag retirement ceremony Sunday at the Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 10342 in Huachuca City. (Ed Honda•Herald/Review)
VFW Post 10342 Chaplain Wayne Rudell lowers the American flag for burning. Boy Scout Bradley Dean assists. (Ed Honda-Herald/Review)
Scout Ping
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.