Newsman
06-20-2006, 01:00 AM
Legion's Flag Disposal Ceremony on Flag Day
Oxford Legions Disposal of Unserviceable Flags Ceremony
OXFORD - On June 14th, Flag Day, the Oxford American Legion Post #376 conducted a “Disposal of Unserviceable Flags Ceremony”. This impressive patriotic ceremony was a particularly dignified and solemn occasion for the retirement of unserviceable flags.
Officers present for the ceremony were Legion Commander, Ray Krygier; 1st Vice Commander, Bruce Wackford; 2nd Vice Commander, Bud Mohr; Sergeant-at-Arms, Adam Everitt; Chaplain, Bill Ballin; and SAL Officer, Tom Dryer. Handling disposal were Post Adjutant, John Sherman and Ron Blandford, member of the Board of Directors and the Post.
Attending the Flag Ceremony were adult members of the community as well as several youth groups. Joining in the ceremony were the 4-H Club; Boy Scouts, Webelos Scouts, and Cub Scouts of Troop 65 and Pack 3065. Representatives of these community youth groups helped with the first flag in the ceremony. Carefully they passed the flag for inspection to the American Legions Sergeant-at-Arms, Second Vice Commander, First Vice Commander and then the Commander of the Legion. Once all officers inspected and agreed that the flag was condemned as unserviceable, Commander Krygier said the following in a speech:
"Let these faded Flags of our Country be retired and destroyed with respect and honorable rites and their places be taken by bright new Flags of the same size and kind, and let no grave of our soldier, sailor, or airman dead be unhonored and unmarked. Sergeant-at-Arms, assemble the Color Guard, escort the detail bearing the Flags and destroy these Flags by burning. The members shall stand at attention."
Immediately following this speech, the Chaplain, Bill Ballin said a prayer. Then one by one, all the youth group members were each given a flag by Sergeant-at-Arms Everitt, instructed how to carry it (not allowing it to touch the ground), and then they passed it to each of the commanders for inspection. The flags were properly disposed of after inspection.
This procedure lasted for nearly an hour, as there were approximately 70 flags. In addition to the American flags, there was a NY state flag, and there were two POW-MIA flags which received special attention. The scouts of Troop 65, Pack 3065 and the 4-H members all did a very impressive job.
(Click on thumbnail photos to enlarge.)
Caption 1: Legion Chaplain, Bill Ballin stood at attention while 2nd Vice Commander, Bud Mohr inspected the flags of Mathew Moore & Cory Hadlock, Pack 3065.
Caption 2: Commander, Ray Krygier saluted Mathew Moore, Pack 3065, after presenting his flag.
Caption 3:The 4-H and the scouts of Troop 65 and Pack 3065 dutifully participated in the American Legion Flag Ceremony.
Caption 4: Sergeant-at-Arms Everitt presents to 2nd Vice Commander, Bud Mohr, while representatives of the 4-H and the scouts of Troop 65 and Pack 3065 hold the first flag.
Oxford Legions Disposal of Unserviceable Flags Ceremony
OXFORD - On June 14th, Flag Day, the Oxford American Legion Post #376 conducted a “Disposal of Unserviceable Flags Ceremony”. This impressive patriotic ceremony was a particularly dignified and solemn occasion for the retirement of unserviceable flags.
Officers present for the ceremony were Legion Commander, Ray Krygier; 1st Vice Commander, Bruce Wackford; 2nd Vice Commander, Bud Mohr; Sergeant-at-Arms, Adam Everitt; Chaplain, Bill Ballin; and SAL Officer, Tom Dryer. Handling disposal were Post Adjutant, John Sherman and Ron Blandford, member of the Board of Directors and the Post.
Attending the Flag Ceremony were adult members of the community as well as several youth groups. Joining in the ceremony were the 4-H Club; Boy Scouts, Webelos Scouts, and Cub Scouts of Troop 65 and Pack 3065. Representatives of these community youth groups helped with the first flag in the ceremony. Carefully they passed the flag for inspection to the American Legions Sergeant-at-Arms, Second Vice Commander, First Vice Commander and then the Commander of the Legion. Once all officers inspected and agreed that the flag was condemned as unserviceable, Commander Krygier said the following in a speech:
"Let these faded Flags of our Country be retired and destroyed with respect and honorable rites and their places be taken by bright new Flags of the same size and kind, and let no grave of our soldier, sailor, or airman dead be unhonored and unmarked. Sergeant-at-Arms, assemble the Color Guard, escort the detail bearing the Flags and destroy these Flags by burning. The members shall stand at attention."
Immediately following this speech, the Chaplain, Bill Ballin said a prayer. Then one by one, all the youth group members were each given a flag by Sergeant-at-Arms Everitt, instructed how to carry it (not allowing it to touch the ground), and then they passed it to each of the commanders for inspection. The flags were properly disposed of after inspection.
This procedure lasted for nearly an hour, as there were approximately 70 flags. In addition to the American flags, there was a NY state flag, and there were two POW-MIA flags which received special attention. The scouts of Troop 65, Pack 3065 and the 4-H members all did a very impressive job.
(Click on thumbnail photos to enlarge.)
Caption 1: Legion Chaplain, Bill Ballin stood at attention while 2nd Vice Commander, Bud Mohr inspected the flags of Mathew Moore & Cory Hadlock, Pack 3065.
Caption 2: Commander, Ray Krygier saluted Mathew Moore, Pack 3065, after presenting his flag.
Caption 3:The 4-H and the scouts of Troop 65 and Pack 3065 dutifully participated in the American Legion Flag Ceremony.
Caption 4: Sergeant-at-Arms Everitt presents to 2nd Vice Commander, Bud Mohr, while representatives of the 4-H and the scouts of Troop 65 and Pack 3065 hold the first flag.