“The flag, when it is in such condition that it is no longer a fitting emblem for display, should be destroyed in a dignified way, preferably by burning.”
U.S. Flag Code

Only the crackling of the fire and the singing of the birds broke the stillness of the morning Saturday, making the words uttered during a U.S. flag retirement ceremony ring out loud and clear.

“When the United States flag becomes worn, torn, faded or badly soiled, it is time to replace it with a new flag, and the old flag should be retired with all the dignity and respect befitting our nation’s flag,” said Ben Bunnell, master of ceremonies for the event held at the Veterans of Foreign Wars Whitehead-Muzzall Post 7392 in Oak Harbor.

VFW members and representatives from the Navy Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps gathered to help retire 95 worn flags.

While the U.S. Flag Code directs flags should be destroyed in a dignified way, preferably by burning, there’s more to a flag retirement ceremony than tossing the stars and stripes on a fire.

There are various retirement ceremonies. Some call for a properly folded flag to be laid ceremoniously on the flames, while other ceremonies call for the flag to be cut. Saturday’s ceremony used the latter technique, with the flags carefully cut apart, stripe by stripe.

“A flag ceases to be a flag when it is cut into pieces,” Bunnell said during the ceremony. “A flag should never be torn up like an old bed sheet. It should be cut up with scissors or shears in a methodical manner.”

“We separate the 13 stripes that represent the original 13 colonies, and the 50 stars to pay homage to the 50 states that together make up this great nation,” read William Thiel, who was there with the NJROTC and participated in the program.

One row at a time, two-member teams from the NJROTC picked up the carefully arranged rows of stripes and laid them respectfully in the flames. After each stripe was placed in the fire, Bunnell read off the name of one of the 13 original colonies, beginning with Delaware and ending with Rhode Island.

Dave Hollett, VFW post commander, followed Bunnell with a statement or quote about the flag, the Declaration of Independence or well known lines from our nation’s history, such as “Give me liberty, or give me death.”

Last to go into the flames was the flag’s union. White stars stood out against the blue cotton and the orange flames.

Bunnell continued the ceremony by reading excerpts of the poem “I am Still the Same Old Flag,” which expresses the unknown author’s disappointment in how the American Flag is treated.

The reading and the ceremony sparked a reaction from the NJROTC members who participated.

“It’s like nobody has any respect for it anymore,” said 17-year-old Kari Jerde.

“You go to parades and see all those little plastic flags laying on the ground,” said Sarah Morical, 17. “Even though it’s plastic, it’s still the symbol of our nation.”

“This experience was a great reminder of what the flag really stands for,” said Nathan Cook, 16.

Bunnell shared his feelings with the NJROTC youth.

“The flag means a lot to us veterans,” he said. “It drives me up the wall when people don’t salute.”

Bunnell said events like the flag retirement ceremony are a good way to connect different generations.

“It gives these kids a sense of how the vets feel, and some insight into the patriotic side of life,” he said.

Several participants in Saturday’s ceremony, which was held in honor of Flag Day on June 14, said retiring a flag can be an emotional thing,

“I’m an emotional old goat and I have to fight to keep from crying,” Bunnell admitted.

“This is the second flag retirement ceremony I’ve seen and taken part in,” said VFW Chaplain Wesley Wilson. “I don’t care where it’s at, it’s still impressive.”