American Legion: Katy's First Flag Retirement

A large group of Cub Scout Pack 9 members, their parents and friends were guests of honor Thursday night when Katy American Legion Post 164 presented the Legionnaires' first flag retirement ceremony to be held here. Legion post commander Mark Kuhn announced the patriotic event would probably be held annually or as needed to properly retire and dispose of unserviceable American flags. After the ceremony, Kuhn explained that the Legion in 1937 inaugurated what has since became one of their major community programs, the proper disposal of unserviceable American flags. "We are developing an on-going plan to have various collection locations where the public can bring in their torn or soiled flags to be exchanged for new ones," Kuhn said. In the ritual, the flags deemed 'unserviceable' are blessed, inspected three times, dipped in kerosene and burned. As the flags burn, the Legionnaires salute and the bugler plays 'To the Colors' while the public stands at attention. During the ceremony the post commander, chaplain, and both vice commanders, each play their role leading up to the point where the post sergeant-at-arms burns the torn flags. Shown is sergeant-at-arms George Berg as the flags burn. (American Legion photo/Will Miller)