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Flags meet dignified end in Legion ceremony
With Old Glory still at half staff following the Orlando mass shooting on Saturday, Flag Day was nonetheless celebrated on Tuesday.
Greencastle American Legion Post 58 noted the patriotic event with its annual flag disposal ceremony at its Veterans Plaza outside the main entrance of the post.
"We have that every Flag Day or near Flag Day to dispose of our unserviceable flags that are worn and tattered so that they don't get misused," new Post Commander Ray Gillinger said.
Proper disposal of an unserviceable flag is no simple matter. Although the flags are incinerated, it is done after a thorough review by multiple members of the post.
On Tuesday, post Sergeant-at-Arms Mike Lanham and Sons of the Legion Commander Tony Sparks presented the folded flag for the ceremony to the first and second vice commanders of the post.
Afterward, Post Commander Gillinger asked the vice commanders the condition of the flag.
With the approval of the two inspectors, Gillinger said a few words about the flag and its meaning.
"Comrades, we have presented here these flags of our country which have been inspected and judged as unserviceable," Gillinger said. "They have reached their current state in a proper service of tribute, memory and love.
"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 men and women true to the faith of the past, devoted to the ideals and practice of justice, freedom and democracy."
Recognizing that the flags have served their duty, Gillinger released them to be disposed of honorably.
"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, the same kind," Gillinger said.
With that, Lanham and Sparks marched to where the fire was already burning. Sparks and Sons of the Legion Sergeant-at-Arms Jeff Bray then lowered the flag into the pit.
As bugler Don Baldwin played taps, the flag met its honorable, dignified end.
Although the official ceremony featured just one flag, the rest will be taken care of at a later date.
"There's a lot more flags to be disposed of but we only do a few while the people are around for the ceremony," Gillinger said.
The Legion ends up with the number of flags it has to dispose of by citizens dropping them off throughout the year. A flag disposal box sits just outside the main entrance on the east side of the Indianapolis Road building.
"People drop them off right here at the post when they have one that's tattered, torn and we take care of it at our ceremony," Gillinger said. "Just drive in, drop your flags off. It's always unlocked and we'll take care of them from there as the box gets full."
Gillinger said that proper care of our flags -- both new and old -- should be a concern for all citizens.
"It's something that everybody needs to think of. There's been a lot of lives cost for that flag," Gillinger said. "For veterans it means probably much more than most."