East County VFW holds flag-retirement ceremony

MANATEE COUNTY — Dave Shoemaker was pensive as he stood before a crowd of more than 200 local Boy Scouts at Camp Flying Eagle June 17.

Behind him, a fire pit smoldered after being freshly lit. A pile of tattered American flags lay just behind it.
“Today, we honor the symbol of our freedom, the American flag as we retire her from duty,” said Shoemaker, who has conducted dozens of flag retirement ceremonies over the years.

As Shoemaker told of the flag’s history and the meaning of each stripe, Camp Flying Eagle’s camp director Stephen Palmieri lowered pieces of the flag — each of 13 stripes — into the flames. Then, 13-year-old Kara Stevens, a junior staff member at the camp, carried the remaining section of the flag to the fire, giving it a kiss before releasing it into the flames.

More than 150 flags were retired from duty by incineration during the ceremony, part of the local Boy Scouts of America’s summer camp program.

The U.S. Congress formally passed its first code for use and display of the American flag in 1942. However, the code does not dictate how a flag should be retired, except for saying it should be done in a dignified way, preferably by incineration, once it is no longer fitting for display.

“There is no 100% this is how you retire a flag,” Shoemaker said, noting there are several versions of retirement ceremonies online. “They are all good practice as long as they show proper respect.”

The Continental Congress in 1777 resolved the flag of the original 13 colonies include 13 stripes of alternating red and white and 13 stars on a sea of blue, the latter of which symbolized “a new constellation.”

For the ceremony Shoemaker led, the first three stripes represented the colors of the American flag.  Red represented hardiness and courage. White represented purity and innocence. And the blue field represented vigilance, perseverance and justice.

Scholars believe this assignment comes from 1782 when the Congress of Confederation adopted the Great Seal of the United States. At that time, Charles Thompson explained the color of the pales, or shield, and many people believe the meaning of those colors transferred to the American flag as well.

After the ceremonial flag has been incinerated, any remaining to-be-retired flags are dropped one-by-one into the fire. The next day, ashes of the flags are removed and buried. Some organizations even mark the burial spot, Shoemaker said.

Contact Pam Eubanks at [email protected].

FLAG RULES
The U.S. Code Title 4 Chapter 1 specifically spells out how the American flag is to be treated. Below are a few of the specifications it lists.

(Section 6) Time and Occasions for Display
• The flag should be hoisted briskly and lowered ceremoniously.

• The flag should be displayed daily on or near the main administration building of every public institution.

(Section 7) Position and Manner of Display
• The flag of the United States of America, when it is displayed with another flag against a wall from crossed staffs, should be on the right, the flag’s own right, and its staff should be in front of the staff of the other flag.

• When the flag is used to cover a casket, it should be so placed that the union is at the head and over the left shoulder. The flag should not be lowered into the grave or allowed to touch the ground.

• When used on a speaker's platform, the flag, if displayed flat, should be displayed above and behind the speaker. When displayed from a staff in a church or public auditorium, the flag of the United States of America should hold the position of superior prominence, in advance of the audience, and in the position of honor at the clergyman's or speaker's right as he faces the audience. Any other flag so displayed should be placed on the left of the clergyman or speaker or to the right of the audience.

(Section 8) Respect for the Flag
• The flag should never be displayed with the union down, except as a signal of dire distress in instances of extreme danger to life or property.

• The flag should never touch anything beneath it, such as the ground, the floor, water, or merchandise.

• The flag should never be carried flat or horizontally but always aloft and free.

• No part of the flag should ever be used as a costume or athletic uniform. However, a flag patch may be affixed to the uniform of military personnel, firemen, policemen, and members of patriotic organizations. The flag represents a living country and is itself considered a living thing. Therefore, the lapel flag pin being a replica, should be worn on the left lapel near the heart.

• 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.