Legion Post 414 hosts flag retirement ceremony for Flag Day

Olney American Legion Post 414 Commander Chris Garcia decided Flag Day would be the perfect opportunity to host a Flag Retirement Ceremony. With the help of Legion members and the musical talents of the Olney Independent School District’s Pride of Olney High School Band Director Rodney Bennett, the ceremony was a complete success. Flag ceremonies are routinely held throughout the year as a way to honorably retire worn flags by burning them. Flying torn or tattered flags is considered disrespectful to the American flag and so as they become worn out the Legions will take them and store them until a Flag Ceremony can be performed. During the Ceremony the Post Chaplin will pray, then the Post Commander recites information about the American flag and ceremony, the flags are then burned as taps is played on the trumpet.