A dignified tribute

It was a warm, nearly cloudless, fall day in Encampment as columns of white and black smoke rose from the firepit at Grand View Park on September 12. The source of the smoke came not just from wood, but from American and Wyoming flags being placed on the open flame.

Such a sight was surely shocking to some, especially two young boys who witnessed the act and raced home to tell a parent. The parent, equally concerned, called dispatch at the Saratoga Police Department. It was, if anything, an opportunity to learn. Those gathered at Grand View Park weren't protestors, but members of Platte Valley Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) 6125 in Encampment and American Legion Angus England Post 54 in Saratoga performing a flag retirement ceremony.

Despite a 5-4 United States Supreme Court ruling in 1989 that flag burning constitutes symbolic speech protected by the First Amendment, the imagery is enough to cause a mixture of emotions. Ask members of either veteran organization, and there is a clear distinction between burning a flag and retiring a flag. Both involve the use of fire, but the latter is a solemn ceremony performed by the VFW, American Legion, the Girl Scouts of America and the Boy Scouts of America.

Just as there are proper ways to display the flag of the United States, originally adopted by the National Flag Conference in June 1923, there are also proper ways to dispose of the flag. When the flag has become threadbare, wind beaten or is for any other reason unable to be flown it must be retired.

"What do you do with it when it's old and ratty and you're ready for a new one?" wrote Katie Lange in a June 11, 2020 article for DOD News. "Don't just throw it in the trash like any other old item-that's considered disrespectful." While the National Flag Conference adopted the United States Flag Code in 1923, it wasn't until 1937 the American Legion passed a resolution about flag retirement ceremonies.

"The approved method of disposing of unserviceable Flags has long been that they be destroyed by burning, but no ritual of such destruction or ceremony in connection therewith has been adopted by The American Legion or included in its official manual of Ceremonies," read Resolution No. 440, which was passed by the 19th National Convention of The American Legion in September 1937.

In September 1944, the National Convention of The American Legion approved Resolution No. 373, which re-emphasized the purpose of proper flag disposal ceremonies. The resolution read, in part, "We are of the opinion that The American Legion's Ceremony for Disposal of Unserviceable Flags is a dignified tribute to the U.S. Flag and its symbolism. We therefore conclude that this ceremony is both legal and proper, and that it is an effective instrument for promoting enhanced respect for the U.S. Flag."

The ceremony held by the two veteran organizations on Sunday combined different approaches to retiring the American Flag. While The American Legion has a detailed script to be followed, the VFW dictates the flag should be folded in the customary manner and be placed on a fire large enough to ensure complete burning of the flag. American Legion Commander James Olguin, VFW Commander Jason Campbell, VFW Senior Vice Commander Bob Herring and Jaden Campbell all read from a script prepared by Herring which borrowed elements from the Boy Scouts of America. Encampment resident Monty Hobbs followed with TAPS played on a bugle.

Between the two organizations, over 100 flags of varying size and material had been collected. With pomp and circumstance provided for the first flag to be laid upon the flames, members of both the VFW and the American Legion proceeded to place the donated flags in the firepit. From the time the first flag was retired to the time the flames began to die down, approximately 90 minutes had passed. 

Following the retirement of the flags, custom dictates the ashes of the retired flags should be buried following the ceremony. The final act was to be carried out by VFW member Robert "Bob" Kelley, who would bury the ashes and grommets at the Grand Encampment Cemetery.

The last time a flag retirement ceremony was held by the Platte Valley VFW 6125 was in 2013.