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Do you know how to dispose of a flag that is
tattered and torn? We all have heard that flags should not be just
tossed into the trash, but should be burned. I learned a meaningful
lesson about retiring a flag as we celebrated Independence Day with an
all-day family picnic at Lake Hickory in North Carolina.
The group was made up of a wide variety of
ages--from one to 80, with lots of young adults and teens. It was
heartwarming to see a wide range of occupations represented, such as
nurses, teachers, insurance, real estate, office managers, mechanics,
hair stylist, minister of Christian education, farmers, business owners
and armed services personnel. One person’s comment was, “We are allowed
to celebrate our nation’s birthday in the way we like. The families
represent the strength of America.”
The climax of the day was a flag retirement
ceremony in the evening following a fireworks display. The ceremony was
planned and carried out by three members of the military.
Here are excerpts from the ceremony:
When the United States flag (Old Glory) becomes
worn, torn, faded or badly soiled, it is time to replace it with a new
flag, and the old flag should be “retired” with all the dignity and
respect befitting our nation’s flag. The traditional method of
retirement is to incinerate the flag, but this does not mean that we
simply drop the entire flag (intact) into a fire. Today, we are not
burning a flag, but retiring a symbol of America’s honor, courage, and
strength. Therefore, we request that all remain silent during this
ceremony.
A flag ceases to be a flag when it is cut into
pieces. In addition, it is easier to completely incinerate the smaller
pieces of the flag. It should never be torn up like an old bed sheet,
but be cut up with scissors or shears in a methodical manner, separating
red stripes, white stripes and the blue star field, which is not
separated, because it represents the union of the fifty states and one
should never let the union be broken.
“The U.S. flag is more than just some brightly
colored cloth . . .
it is a symbol of our nation. Seven red stripes and six white stripes,
together represent the original 13 colonies that gained us liberty. The
red stripes remind us of the lifeblood of brave men and women who were
ready to die for this, their country. The white stripes remind us of
purity and cleanliness of purpose, thought, word and deed. The blue is
for truth and justice, like the eternal blue of the star-filled heavens.
The stars represent the fifty states that together
make up our Union. The American Creed states, ‘It is my duty to my
country to love it, to respect its Constitution, to obey its laws, to
respect its flag, and to defend it against all enemies.’ The U.S. flag
should be treated with respect when it’s flying, and should be treated
with respect when it’s being retired.
We separate the 13 stripes that represent the
original 13 colonies, and the 50 stars to pay homage to the 50 states
that together make up this great nation. Each stripe is placed
individually in the burning fire with a stick. The following comments
are read:
‘The white stands for purity that is in all our
hearts. It represents the honor deep inside our soul. The red stands for
courage of the men and women in the armed forces who have served or died
to keep freedom alive. It also stands for those on our soil who have
died to protect the rights of others. The blue stands for valor and
courage that binds our fifty states together. The blue field indicates
God’s heaven, under which it flies’.”
“Give me liberty or give me death.”
“One if by land, two if by sea.”
“We the people of the United States, in order to
form a more perfect union, establish justice, ensure domestic
tranquility, provide for the common defense, promote the general
welfare, and secure the blessing of liberty to ourselves and our
posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution of the United
States of America.”
“We hold these truths to be self evident, that all
men are created equal. They are endowed by their creator with certain
unalienable rights. Among these are life, liberty and the pursuit of
happiness.”
“Congress shall make no law respecting an
establishment of religion or prohibiting the free exercise thereof.”
“Congress shall make no law abridging the freedom
of speech or press.”
“Four score and seven years ago, our fathers
brought forth upon this continent a new nation, conceived in liberty and
dedicated to the proposition that all men are created equal.”
“One Nation under God.”
“Ask not what your country can do for you, but what
you can do for your country.”
“One small step for man, one giant leap for
mankind.”
The ceremony ends with The Pledge of Allegiance: “I
Pledge Allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the
Republic for which it stands, one Nation under God, indivisible, with
liberty and justice for all.”
A representative of the Veterans of Foreign Wars in
Grantsville said that the organization holds periodic flag retirements.
Any person can contact their local VFW Post for information. They will
be honored to give the last rites to the flag. The number of Post 5959
is 354-6550.
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