Latest Postings

I-95 HOV Expansion Project Update ( Alicia De Fago )
"Wind Power" is the theme for Kite Beach ( William Djubin )
Safe Harbor Fundraiser ( Penny Sheltz )
La Posada Lifecare Community Seminar ( Penny Sheltz )
Earn Extra Money in Your Extra Time ( Robin Braden )

share a story | more postings »

YourHub.com \\ Jupiter \\ Stories \\ Entertainment \\ Festivals

Happy Flag Day

e-mail to a friend | print this | link to this

NEXT › ‹ PREVIOUS

Contributed by: Penny Sheltz on 6/14/2008

THE DONALD ROSS POST 9610 Veterans of Foreign Wars men and ladies auxillaries had a Flag retirement Saturday June14.
Americanism Chairman Rena Nunn welcomed the guests and played "You're a Grand Old Flag" on a CD player.

Commander Liguori, welcomed and reminded guests that they were there to honor our Flag, the symbol of our American freedom as we retired her from duty. He said, as long as American cherish liberty more than life itself, the Stars and Stripes will endure as the banner of the United States of America. Flags should be honored, respected, defended as the audience renewed their allegiance to her with the Pledge of Alegance and then as the National Anthem was played.

Chaplain Zummo led the prayer, "Lord, we thank you for your Country, its Flag, and the liberty for which it stands. We humbly ask you to watch over our service members now serving under our Flag. We commit these Flags, worn out in worthy service, to a clean and purging flame. As they yield their substance to the fire, may Thy holy light spread over us, bring warmth to our Prisoners of War,
provide a beacon for our Missing in Action to return home, and bring renewed devotion to God and Country. Amen."

Next Chairman Nunn played the Stars Spangled Banner as everyone sang.
Then Commander Liguori explained that the US Code stipulates "When a Flag is no long a fit emblem for display it should be destroyed in a dignified way such as burning. " The flags were gathered that had become faded and worn in a tribute of service and love.

Officer Culllen salutes, and collects the Flags. The flags were presented to Adjutant Sutton for his inspection and taken to Vice Commander Balius and then back to Commander Liguori. It was determined these flags had reached their present state in a proper sevice of tribute, and memory to our beloved country and our honored dead. The flags are then declared retired from service and their replacements represent a symbolic value most precious to all of us who served and to those who died while in honorable and patriotic service. The Old Glory replacement will continue to fly and forever wave in freedom and love of our Country.

Chaplain Zummo; " Almighty God, Commander over all, we beseech You to bless and to consecrate this solemn ceremony. We thank you for our heritage, for our country, for its Flag and for the liberty for which it stands. We ask Your divine blessings as we submit these Flags, worn, torn, and frail for faithful service. Make us strong, so that we may go forth with renewed vigor in patriotism, Americanism, and in VFW fellowship. Amen"

The Stars and Stripes Forever was played as the flags were burned.

Photographer Penny meets Alice Louise Fullerton whose husband survived the Bataan Death March in WW 2. Major Fullerton passed away in 2005 at the age of 92. Alice Fullerton's nephew is a retired astronaut.

[Report this as objectionable content.]

SUBMIT COMMENT

Rate the above story