The Santa Claus American Legion hosted a flag-retirement ceremony in honor of Flag Day last week. More than 800 old, faded damaged flags from across the county were collected and respectfully put to the flame in the traditional manner of the American Legion.
“These flags have become faded and worn over the graves of our departed comrades and the dead soldiers, sailors and airmen of all our nation’s wars,” said Sergeant-At-Arms Chris Ambs as he presented a ceremonial flag for inspection.
Traditionally, a single flag is chosen to be burned after review by post leaders. This flag serves as a representative of all American flags to be retired that day. Once the ceremony is complete, the remaining flags are burned together.
The flag code of the United States stems largely from the American Legion and its predecessors. The rules for proper display were established exactly a century ago this month, but flag retirement ceremonies were codified in 1937. Ceremonial burning had long been deemed an acceptable means of retiring a faded flag, and it has since become the standard.
The push for a codified approach to respecting the flag while in service and retiring it with dignity began shortly after the American Civil War. The Grand Army of the Republic and other veteran groups launched efforts to curtail commodification of the flag in retail ads, clothing etc.
This was not always the case. In fact, the original “Star Spangled Banner” that flew over Fort McHenry during the 1814 siege became a family heirloom of Lieutenant Colonel George Armistead. The family would later give snippets of the flag away as souvenirs and gifts. What remains of that flag is now preserved at the Smithsonian Institute.
Much of the American Legion’s current traditions stem from the aftermath of World War I, when veterans pushed for the implementation of the Flag Code in 1923 and the establishment of the formal retirement ceremony in 1937.
Commander Ken Hildenbrand read the traditional farewell for the old glories being retired from service.
“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, sailor, marine, or airman dead be unhonored and unmarked.”
Photos and story by Don Steen
