VFW holds ceremony for Dignified Flag Disposal

By Shari Harris, Publisher

More than 80 students attended Licking VFW Post #6337’s annual Dignified Flag Disposal on Wednesday, September 18. The students were welcomed by nine members of the VFW and the Auxiliary, who retired 311 flags from service at the ceremony.

First Vice Virgil Zeller, Second Vice Ted Jensen, and Sgt. at Arms Michael Mas presented and inspected the unserviceable flags, then Post Commander Billie Krewson honorably retired them. Quartermaster Harry Brevoort and VFW member Aaron Hall assisted with the disposal of the flags by fire, in a bin placed on the parking lot of TJ’s Flowers, to allow for a gravel bottom to the bin.

Six fifth-grade and seven sixth-grade students from Success, nine fifth-grade students from Raymondville, and approximately 60 fifth-grade students from Licking watched the ceremony from the VFW parking lot, then headed indoors for snacks provided by Auxiliary members Loretta Gann and Devon Ingram. Auxiliary member Lisa Mas and son, Adam Beesecker, were also on hand for the ceremony.

Cdr. Krewson explained to students that every distinguishing characteristic of the flag must be gone to prevent any piece of it from falling into enemy hands. That is why the only authorized means to dispose of a flag is by burning in a dignified disposal.

Krewson shared his experiences in the U.S. Navy, and stressed to the students that “every job is important, everyone has to do their job to achieve the mission.” He added that the job that they are doing is their most important job, and their job is to go to school and learn everything they can.

If you have an unserviceable flag, you may leave it throughout the year in the VFW’s Flag Disposal box in front of Licking City Hall. The flags are gathered on a regular basis and stored until September, when they are retired.

Photos by Shari Harris