Boy Scout troop respectfully retires American flags

Worn flags are to be destroyed in a dignified manner.

By Wayne Grant
| 5:13 p.m. May 13, 2016

Scouts cut stripes from the flag for participants to lay on the fire. Shown are Bryce Wooten, Wyatt Reynolds, Jeffrey Serle, Sam Laughlin, Hunter Chewning, Chase Mott, Alex Swindle, Logan Treglia, Logan Littell, Chris Jessup and Keanon Jessup.

Ormond Beach Observer
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Keanon Jessup reads part of the poem, “I am Your Flag.” Also shown are Evan Craig, Caleb Wooten, Bryce Wooten, Hunter Chewning, Sam Laughlin, Alex Swindle, Wyatt Reynolds, Jeffrey Serle, Logan Littel, Logan Treglia, Chase Mott and Raymond Hall.

Boy Scout Troop 403, which meets at Christ Presbyterian Church, 1035 W. Granada Blvd., conducted a flag retirement ceremony May 10 on the grounds in back of the church. Members of American Legion Post 267 and Elks Lodge 2193, both of Ormond Beach, were in attendance. All three organizations receive flags throughout the year that have become too worn or damaged to be displayed, and the flags are retired in dignified ceremonies.

Scouts Keanon Jessup and Jeffrey Serle planned and conducted the recent ceremony as part of their communications merit badge requirements.

According to the U.S. Flag Code, “the flag, when it is in such condition that it is no longer a fitting emblem for display, should be destroyed in a dignified way, preferably by burning.”

— Wayne Grant