'Old Glory' laid to rest during moving, respectful ceremony

In two ceremonies held at the Elks Lodge parking lot Saturday, members of the lodge, the American Legion, the Girl Scouts and the community gathered to pay their final respects to approximately 600 American flags that were retired on Flag Day.

After a ceremonial inspection, hundreds of flags were placed in an open flame where they quickly turned to ash. The ash was collected to be buried in a yet undetermined sacred place in accordance with U.S. customs.

"It's about honoring the flag and retiring it with the honor and dignity the American flag deserves," said Bill Thurber, Leading Knight of Elks Lodge BPOE #2276.

In addition to honoring the flag, many in attendance honored a lost love one by dedicating a flag to be retired in their memory.

Thurber and his wife dedicated a flag in memory of their son, who died in Iraq.

The event, held by Elks Lodge BPOE #2276 and American Legion posts No. 101 and No. 26, traditionally occurs annually, but because of a fire ban, had not been held in three years.

Over the last three years, 500-600 flags had been collected from the community or dropped off at the Elks Lodge or American Legion.

Thurber feels it's important to hold the ceremony regardless of the number of flags.

"The ceremony has to be done when you retire the flag, I don't care if it's one flag or 600 flags," Thurber said.

During the ceremony, a flag was inspected to ensure the flag was unserviceable before a color guard assembled and carried it into the fire.

"A flag may be a flimsy bit of printed gauze, or a beautiful banner of finest silk," Dale Walenski, commander of American Legion Post 101, said during the ceremony.

"It's 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 died for -- a free nation of free men and women, true to the faith of the past, devoted to the ideals and practice of justice, freedom and democracy."

Flags can continued to be donated to the Elks or the American Legion, which be held until the next ceremony.