A young man’s letter to the editor (Globe, June 10) depicted a recent flag retirement ceremony. Two Boy Scouts from Troop 333 of Joplin helped conduct the ceremony as younger Scouts watched, learned and participated.
Brandon Fernandez, of Joplin, wrote: The first flag retired was one of the big flags that had been flown at the Praying Hands in Webb City. Each Cub Scout was able to place one stripe on the fire, as well as several smaller flags. All together, approximately 75 flags were retired with honor at this ceremony. ... I was glad to see all the young boys be reverent during the ceremony and wanting to participate. These days, not many people get to participate in a ceremony like this. I was honored to help lead this event.:
Today, Flag Day, we would like to say thank you to Fernandez and others like him who take care to see that flags are not discarded, but rather respectfully retired.
The date commemorates the adoption of the flag by the Second Continental Congress, which happened that day by resolution in 1777. President Woodrow Wilson in 1916 issued a proclamation that officially established June 14 as Flag Day; in August 1949, National Flag Day was established by an act of Congress. Flag Day is not an official federal holiday, though on June 14, 1937, Pennsylvania became the first (and only) U.S. state to celebrate Flag Day as a state holiday.
Flags will wave high today over government buildings and from the porches of Main Street America.
But, when it is time for the flag to finally come down, we would urge you to seek out a local Boy Scout troop member or a veterans organization to assist you in the proper retirement of your flag.
Thank you, Brandon, for the reminder.
Opinion
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