Flag Retirement
On November 11, 2005, Troop 575 will hold its
fourth
annual Flag Retirement Ceremony. If you have a flag that is
unserviceable
(torn, frayed, faded, or has holes in it) and would like to have it
properly
retired, most Veteran's Organizations (VFW, AmVets, etc.), Fraternal
Organizations
(Moose, Elks, etc.) and Boy Scout Troops will collect them to be
properly
retired. If you would like to donate your flag to Troop 575, you
may
bring it to one of our regular meetings, Monday 7:00 p.m.-8:30 p.m.
In most Flag Retirement Ceremonies, the flags to be retired are done so
by fire, and in a respectable manner. It is important to note
that when
performing a Flag Retirement by Fire, the fire that is used should be
built
specifically for the flag retirement ceremony and not used for any
other
purpose (some might consider it inappropriate to use the same fire to
roast
marshmallows after the ceremony). Our Flag Retirement Ceremony
from
the November 11 2002 cermony is included below.
This ceremony requires three speakers, Leader of Ceremony, Speaker 1
and Speaker 2. The number of people in the color guard can vary
depending on how many scouts are in your unit and how many flags are to
be retired.
Read only the Bold items, Underlined items indicate
which
speaker is to read the line. All other lines are informative or stage
directions.
Color Guard carries folded flags in the same manner as you would in a
flag raising ceremony.
Speaker 1: (To Leader of Ceremony) We wish to
present a number of unserviceable flags of our country for inspection
and disposal.
Leader of Ceremony: (To Speaker 1) Advance with
your detail and present your flags for inspection and disposal.
Speaker 1 calls his detail to attention and stands by flags.
Speaker 2 comes forward and stands in front of flags.
Speaker 1 salutes briskly and holds. Speaker 2 salutes
briskly and when done Speaker 1 stops
saluting. When done with this they start next speech.
Speaker 1: (To Speaker 2) We present these
unserviceable flags for your inspection.
Speaker 2: Is the present condition of these flags the
result of their usual service as the emblem of our country?
Speaker 1: Yes, these flags have become
faded and worn.
Speaker 2: (To Speaker 1) Please present
these flags for inspection.
Leader of Ceremony: (To Speaker 2) What do your
inspections show and what do you recommend?
Speaker 2: (To Leader of Ceremony) Since these
flags have become faded and worn in a tribute of service and love, I
recommend
that they be honorably retired by fire.
Leader of Ceremony: Fellow citizens, we have presented
here these flags of our country which have been inspected and condemned
as unserviceable. They have reached their present state in proper
service of tribute, memory and love. A flag may be a flimsy bit
of
printed gauze, or a beautiful banner of the finest silk. Its
inherent
value may be trifling or great; but its value is beyond price, for it
is
a precious symbol of all that our veterans have worked for, lived for,
and
died for--a nation of free men and women, true tot he faith of the
past,
devoted to the ideals and practice of justice, freedom and democracy.
Let
these faded flags of our country be retired and destroyed with
respectful
and honorable rites and that their places be taken by bright new flags
of
the same size and kind. (To Speaker 2) Assemble the
color guard, escort the detail bearing the flags and destroy these
flags
by burning.
Leader of Ceremony: Hand salute.
Color Guard advances, Leader of Ceremony assists in unfolding flag.
Flag is then laid into the fire making sure all of the flag is
inside the fire ring. When retiring multiple flags, allow enough
time for the
first flag to be significantly consumed by the fire before retiring the
next.
After all flags are retired, bugler will pay taps.
Leader of Ceremony: To, This concludes our Flag
retirement Ceremony, Good Night.