American Legion posts stage Flag Day events across the nation.
Across the nation, American Legion posts serve as locations where used U.S. flags can be dropped off and retired in a dignified manner. And that service was on full display this year on Flag Day.
Throughout the country, American Legion posts staged Flag Day events that included flag retirement ceremonies, and information on the U.S. flag’s history and etiquette. Some posts also combined their Flag Day events with other commemorations, including the U.S. Army’s 250th birthday.
Perhaps no Flag Day event was as large as the one conducted by American Legion Post 379 in Bethlehem, Pa. The post was responsible for retiring close to 20,000 flags, with most of those coming from veterans’ gravesites at local cemeteries. The ceremony included the playing of Taps and a 21-gun salute from the post’s honor guard. The post has been conducting the ceremony for more than 20 years.
The following are some other examples how American Legion posts commemorated Flag Day. Please remember to submit your own stories and photos at Legiontown.org in the Rally Around the Flag category.
Alabama
In Daphne, American Legion Post 199 combined its Flag Day event with honoring American Legion Baseball’s 100th birthday, which takes place this summer. A flag-folding ceremony took place at Joe Hutchins Field at Coastal Church prior to a Legion Baseball game.
California
In Joshua Tree, Jack V Rice Post 761 teamed with Twentynine Palms Elks Lodge 2134 for a flag retirement ceremony.
Idaho
In Mackay, Joe Nowacki Post 16 conducted an unserviceable flags ceremony at the post. The post encouraged members of the community to bring their unserviceable flags for inclusion in the ceremony.
Illinois
In Springfield, American Legion Post 32 teamed with Camp Butler National Cemetery and SCHEELS for a Flag Day event that encouraged the public to bring in their unserviceable flags. The first 200 individuals or families who brought in one were given a free American-made 3’ x 5’ flag. A flag-retirement ceremony followed and was conducted by members of Post 32 and American Legion Riders Chapter 32.
Indiana
· In Noblesville, Frank Huntzinger Post 45 celebrated both Flag Day and the Army’s 250th birthday. Included was a cake-cutting ceremony, a flag-retirement ceremony and live music.
· In Westville, American Legion Post 21 conducted its annual flag-retirement ceremony at the Westville Fire Department station.
· In Crown Point, American Legion Post 20 retired the flags it had collected from the community throughout the year.
Iowa
In Delhi, American Legion Post 160 hosted a Flag Day event outside and then hosted a celebration of its newly formed Sons of The American Legion squadron.
Louisiana
In Shreveport, American Legion Post 14 retired several flags during its ceremony.
"As we look upon our flag today, whether it waves in the wind or hangs silently in ceremony, may we be reminded that freedom is not free,” Post 14 Commander Ben Cothran said. “It was earned with sweat, defended with blood, and preserved through the collective will of people determined never to take it for granted."
Michigan
In Howell, American Legion Post 141 hosted a Flag Day event that included Scouting troops and packs from throughout the area. There was a ceremony, followed by a flag-retirement ceremony.
Minnesota
In Two Harbors, American Legion Post 109’s honor guard conducted a Flag Day ceremony in the veterans’ section of Lakeview Cemetery. The honor guard then properly retired U.S. flags
Watch the ceremony on Facebook here.
Missouri
In Jefferson City, American Legion Post 5’s parking lot served as a venue for the post’s annual flag-retirement ceremony attended by members of the community. The post also conducts private retirement ceremonies throughout the year, disposing of hundreds of flags.
"It's especially good for the American Legion, because one of our precepts is honoring the flag and respecting the flag," Post 5 Commander Hal Dulle said. “The flag's value is beyond price because it is the symbol of all that soldiers have lived and died for – a free nation, of free men and women true to the faith of the past.”
New York
· In Marathon, Osco Robinson Post 617 celebrated Flag Day by properly disposing of worn out flags after a brief ceremony by Legion members and officers. Following the ceremony, the post provided free pizza and lemonade to attendees.
· In Lyndonwood, Houseman-Tanner Post 1603 teamed with the Lyndonville Fire Company to retire more than 500 American flags.
Pennsylvania
· In Fairview, American Legion Post 742 teamed with Boy Scout Troop 146 for a flag-retirement ceremony.
· In Gilbert, American Legion Post 927 held a ceremony to retire unserviceable American flags. Community members were encouraged to bring their own worn and tattered U.S. flags to be retired respectfully.
Texas
In Gatesville, American Legion Post 42 commemorated both Flag Day and the Army’s 250th birthday with a public event. The post retired U.S. flags and celebrated the birthday with free hamburgers and hot dogs.
Virginia
· In Chesapeake, American Legion Post 280 teamed with the Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 2894 and area first responders for a flag-retirement ceremony.
· In Cheriton, Northampton Post 56 hosted a flag-retirement ceremony that included the Cheriton Volunteer Fire Company and Scouting Troop 314. The post also presented its Fireman of the Year award.
· In Keswick, American Legion Post 74 conducted a flag-retirement ceremony with support from Scouting America Troops 37, 3711 and 119.
Washington
In Fairfield, hundreds attended the town’s annual Flag Day parade, which was led by members of American Legion Post 69 in Plummer, Idaho.
West Virginia
In Berkeley Springs, Alderton-Dawson Post 60 conducted a flag-retirement ceremony to properly dispose of flags dropped off at the post throughout the year.
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