VFW 1075 Hosts Flag Ceremony

At 11:30 a.m. Saturday, June 14, the Harrison VFW Post 1075 celebrated Flag Day by hosting a Flag Ceremony. Post members, Auxiliary members, family and friends commemorated those that have gone before us and veterans who are still serving and retired.

As we honor our veterans, we also honor our flag and what it means for our veterans, their families and our country.

Flags have been collected for the last year from cemeteries, businesses and residential owners that could no longer be flown because they were unserviceable.

Veterans of the Army, Marines, Air Force, Navy and Coast Guard were represented at the ceremony.

After the fire died down and extinguished, the ashes of the flags were buried behind the veterans memorial at the VFW Post.

Throughout the year, if anyone has a flag that is unserviceable, they are free to drop it off at the VFW Post, 3190 N. Clare Ave. in Harrison.

To honor the American Flag there are procedures to follow.

The flag should be folded in its customary manner, in a trifold fashion with the 13 folds in mind.

It is important that the fire be fairly large and of sufficient intensity to ensure complete burning of the flag.

Place the flag on the fire, a proper ceremonial fire.

The individual(s) can come to attention, salute the flag, place a hand on their heart and/or recite the Pledge of Allegiance and have a brief period of silent reflection.

After the flag is completely consumed the fire should be safely extinguished and the ashes buried.

June 14 is Flag Day every year. It commemorates the adoption of the United States flag by the Second Continental Congress on June 14, 1777. While the day was first observed nationally in 1877, it wasn't until 1916 that President Woodrow Wilson officially proclaimed June 14 as Flag Day. It became a national holiday in 1949 when President Harry Truman signed it into law.

© Clare County Cleaver