Members of Scouting America (former Boy Scouts of America) Troop 14 held a public USA Flag retirement ceremony Tuesday evening at the Jena Town Park Pavilion where around 100 flags were retired through the officially recognized process of burning.
In 1937, the American Legion passed a resolution about flag retirement ceremonies and that resolution and rules contained therein have been used since to perform the sacred ritual of retiring USA Flags. According to the resolution, “The approved method of disposing of unserviceable flags has long been that they be destroyed by burning.”
But to properly give the appropriate respects to the unserviceable flags they deserve, there are certain procedures that must be part of the ceremony. Along with certain military service organizations, Scouting America has been a long been one of the premier organizations who perform flag retirement ceremonies with the respect it demands.
According to La-Salle Parish Scouting America committee member Bill Ross, Troop 14 of Jena has been performing flag retirement ceremonies for many years.
“In order to advance in Scouting, all Scouts are required to participate in specific flag ceremonies and to accrue service hours related to the Flag,” he said.
He noted that the troop regularly conducts flag retirement ceremonies and with an unusually large number of flags to retire this time, they decided to allow the event open to the public.
Coinciding with the Independence Day holiday, the event was scheduled for July 2, just two days prior to the Fourth of July. At the Jena Town Park, family and friends of Scouts attended, along with others from the community who wished to take part in the ceremony.
Ross said that many of the discarded flags came from the newly installed Woodmen-Life drop box located beside the Jena Town Hall. Others came from local schools, churches and homes.
The program began with Scouts sharing about the USA Flag and offering a prayer before three unserviceable flags were stretched forth by Scouts as the Pledge of Allegiance was recited by all while standing at attention.
According to flag retirement protocol, all of the unserviceable flags were folded in the traditional triangle fold, unless they were so tattered that they couldn’t be folded. In those instances, the red and white areas were disassembled, however, the field of blue and stars were left intact.
The first few flags were delivered to the fire pits by Scouts, as they demonstrated to those in attendance the proper way to respectfully dispose of the flags into the fire.
Reverently, the Scout holding the flag walked to the fire pit, placed the flag into the fire, and then stepped back and saluted, showing great respect to the honored flag that was retired. Others around the pit also saluted at the same time.
Ross then announced that anyone who wished could come forward and participate. A line was formed as most in attendance joined the Scouts in retrieving unserviceable flags, or parts of flags, and went to the fire pits where they too, took part in the retirement ceremony. While some saluted, others placed their hands over their hearts, but all retired the flags with tremendous respect.
Among those in attendance were retired military service personnel who emotions were strong as they understood the value of the USA Flag.
A search on the internet will provide great knowledge of the United States Flag Code, which allows citizens to know everything about the USA Flag, from proper display to proper ways to respect the flag.
For more information about Scouting America (available for youth ages 11-18 and younger children’s Cub Scout Packs), search for “be a scout.”
For information about Jena’s Troop 14, contact Scoutmaster Meshell Squyres at (318)374-9799 or Pack 14 Cubmaster Charlene Richard at (318) 481-1825.
Both Troop and Pack 14 are chartered through Richmond Nolley Memorial Methodist Church in Jena.
