Texarkana Troop 3 Scouts Schedule Flag Retirement Ceremony February 17

I've posted about this before, so by now I hope you know it is improper to dispose of an old, worn-out US flag by simply throwing it away or chucking it on your burn pile. The proper way to do it is a flag retirement ceremony. So, how do you get it into the hands of someone who is going to be performing one of those ceremonies? Here you go...

When:

Saturday, February 17, 2024, Caddo Area Council BSA Troop 3, with special thanks to the Texarkana Texas Parks and Recreation Department, will be performing a proper US Flag retirement ceremony starting at 9 AM and lasting until about noon. The public is invited to bring unserviceable flags to this event or drop them off beforehand at the Scout Service Center next to Spring Lake Park.

Where:

Spring Lake Park, North entrance, next to the Dog Park is where the ceremony will take place

Properly Disposing of the US Flag

Thousands of men, women, mothers, fathers, brothers, sisters, moms, and dads have died in service to this country and that flag for it to be disrespected in any way. That's why scouts and veterans groups all over the county hold these ceremonies regularly, to be sure we all have a chance to give the respect and honor the flag deserves when displaying time has come to an end.

The Department Of Defence website explains the process during an American Legion Ceremony in the picture above:

Participants stand aligned in two parallel rows about 20 feet apart, facing each other. A small fire burns beyond the rows of members, opposite the Legion commander.

An airman stands by as a scout leader salutes an older veteran. Several young men stand with them, three of whom are holding unserviceable flags.
The flags that are no longer serviceable are presented to Legion commanders, who inspect them to make sure they should, in fact, be discarded. When it's agreed upon that they've reached their current worn state due to proper service of tribute, memory and love, a color guard presents the colors and a chaplain offers prayers.

As the crowd salutes, the flag detail dips the retired flags into kerosene and puts them on a rack over the fire. A bugler sounds "To the Colors."

Please don't just chuck your old flag on a backyard burn pile or wad it up and throw it in the trash, drop it off with a local veterans organization, Scout Troop, or Cub Pack so they can see to it that it's done properly and respectfully.

Thank you.

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