VFW Post 43, Boy Scouts to Conduct Flag Retirement Ceremony

The Auxiliary of the D. Merl Tipton VFW Post 43 and area Boy Scout Troops will again conduct a Flag Retirement Ceremony on Thursday, May 27, at 7 p.m., at the Morrisons Cove Memorial Park in the area directly behind the cattle barns. The ceremony should last no longer than 45 minutes.

The Flag Code states that a national flag that is worn beyond repair is to be burned in a fire. The ceremony should be conducted with dignity and respect and the flag burned completely to ashes.

The ceremony is open to the public and everyone is invited to attend. Since there is no seating available, attendees may want to bring a chair if they are unable to stand for extended periods of time.

Flags that are fraying, torn and tattered or faded need to be retired. Anyone who has a flag that needs to be retired may bring it to the ceremony.

Participants can also deposit flags in boxes designated for unusable flags at these locations: VFW Post 43 in Martinsburg, entrance at the Nicodemus Street parking lot; Murry-Appleman Post 147 American Legion, Roaring Spring; or Ray Camp VFW Post 7689, Roaring Spring by May 26.

You may also give your unusable flag to a boy scout, a veteran or a member of the Legion or VFW.

This is the fourth year for the Flag Retirement Ceremony.

"On behalf of the Boy Scouts and the VFW Post 43 Auxiliary, I want to thank the community for its support for this program," said Jane Fagans, flag education coordinator for The Auxiliary of the D. Merl Tipton VFW Post 43.

"Our United States Flag is a living symbol for America, and we should all display it proudly and properly," said Fagans.