By Cathy Kimmel-Srock
Review Staff Writer
The American flag, the ultimate display of this country’s pride and patriotism, deserves the respect it has earned, even when it must be laid to rest.
That’s where local veterans and North Oakland VFW Post 334 comes in. They will help the public dispose, or retire as it is called, their flag properly.
“It’s the custom giving the American flag the respect that it deserves,” said VFW Post 334 Quartermaster Chuck Haskin.
“The American flag represents the greatest country in the world and it deserves respect,” added James ‘Mouse’ Muys, VFW Post 334 Chaplain and VFW State Historian.
The ceremony involves some steps, starting with inspection of the flag.
“When we get them, we look over each flag and inspect it to make sure that it is beyond use,” Muys said.
A flag that is beyond use is one that is worn out, frayed, torn, faded, stained or has holes.
Once a flag has been identified as ready for retirement, it is folded up and properly disposed of in a fire, according to Muys.
“You do more than one of these at a time and when you are all done with this and the fire burns out, you take the ashes and you bury the ashes,” Haskin explained. “You give it a proper burial.”
“It is a very solemn procedure that we go through,” he added. “After every flag that is put in the fire, each flag gets its salute.”
Recently, at an open memorial event hosted at the Orion Veterans Memorial last month, they retired approximately 40 flags, including 27 American flags, which the community had dropped off for proper disposal.
According to Haskin, as soon as they have some flags accumulated, they will make arrangements for the retiring ceremony, frequently trying to schedule it in conjunction with some other ceremony or gathering, such as the open memorial events hosted last month, so the public can also be a part of it.
“Not only for our military but for all of our civilians, the flag represents the freedoms we have in this country,” he added.
Individuals that are interested in having their flag retired by the veterans can drop them off to the Orion Veterans Memorial. Frequently, local Boy Scout groups also get involved with flag retirements, according to Haskin, so a local scout master may also be able to help a community member with retiring their flag.
Additionally, many of the members of VFW Post 334 gather at Lake Orion McDonald’s every weekday morning at 8:30 and Muys said the community is always welcome to join them for coffee, stories or even to drop off their flags.