Flags Receive Dignified Disposal

Four members from Turner, Montana's American Legion Post 109 conducted a Ceremony for Disposal of Unserviceable Flags on September 29 at approximately 3:00 in the afternoon. The time was set so that students from Turner Public Schools could attend. At the ceremony, 39 flags received a dignified disposal.

Jeff Nelson welcomed those gathered and explained that the flags would perish in a proper service of tribute, memory, and love after having reached their present tattered, faded, and frayed state and deemed unserviceable. "Such a ceremony encourages proper respect for the Flag of the United States and provides for disposal of unserviceable flags in a dignified manner," Nelson stated.

Nelson was joined by Steve Humphreys, Dallas Egbert, and Andrew Jones of Post 109. Each of the veterans played a role in the ceremony, reading in turn.

Reading as the Sergeant-of-Arms for the ceremony, Jones began: "Comrade Commander, we wish to present a number of unserviceable Flags of our Country for inspection and disposal. . . .These flags have become faded and worn over the graves of our departed comrades and the Soldier, Marine, Sailor, and Airman dead of all our nation's wars. . . .Some of these flags have been displayed in various public places."

After inspection, the Second Vice Commander, Humphreys recommended that the flags be "honorably retired from further service."

Reading as Commander, Egbert recited: "A flag may be a flimsy bit of printed gauze or a beautiful banner of finest silk. Its intrinsic value may be trifling or great; but its real value is beyond price, for 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 free men, true to the faith of the past, devoted to the ideals and practice of justice, freedom, and democracy.

"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 or sailor dead be unhonored and unmarked."

After that portion of the ceremony, Nelson offered a prayer: "Almighty God, Captain of all hosts and Commander over all, bless and consecrate this present hour. We thank Thee for our Country and its Flag, and for the liberty for which it stands. To clean and purging flame, we commit these flags, worn out in worthy service. As they yield their substance to the fire, may Thy Holy Light spread over us and bring to our hearts renewed devotion to God and Country. Amen."

Using long poles and taking care that the flags not touch the ground, Egbert and Nelson carried each flag in turn to a large burning barrel where it was honorably burned and retired from further service. Black smoke bellowed, as the fire responded to the various materials.

"We accumulated quite a few flags since COVID interrupted our ability to gather. We also wanted the young people to be able to take part so they could see how a flag should be disposed of," Egbert explained. "When flags become faded and worn, any member of the community can give them to an American Legion member, and we'll take care of their retirement. Some of the larger ones you saw today, flew at the Port."

The ceremony has been an integral part of American Legion ritual since the passing of American Legion Resolution No. 440. That Resolution was heard by the 19th National Convention of the American Legion in New York on September 20-23, 1937.