VFW Flag Retirement Ceremony
October 2, 2020, 4:30 PM - 6:30 PM (America/Chicago)
Starting at 4:30pm, come and go. We may still have flags to retire after 6:30pm, so if you can stay later, that may be very helpful
Flag Retirement Ceremony
Outdoors at VFW Post 1685 in Spenard, 1200 W 33rd Ave
Uniform: ABUs (you may get soot on them), facemasks, dress for the weather (we will be outdoors the entire time)
VFW Post 1685 Commander Brett Spencer has invited Lake Hood Squadron CAP Cadets to help them in their annual flag retirement ceremony. When an American flag become tattered, faded, or is otherwise unfit for use, people take them to the VFW post. Once a year, usually on Flag Day, the Spenard VFW post has a ceremony wherein they officially retire the flags by burning them in a respectful, proper flag ceremony. Due to COVID restrictions, they postponed their 2020 ceremony, and they have invited us to join them.
A few VFW officers will be on hand to train us and guide us through the process. They have provided a ~3-page script cadets can read loud and clear explaining the life of an American flag...from the flag's perspective! Cadets will then follow a prescribed method of honoring each flag then ceremoniously placing it in a burn barrel.
YOUR SAFETY IS THE TOP PRIORITY: The VFW officers will coach us in safe handling of the flags and the burn barrels. Many of the flags are nylon and may catch fire very quickly. The VFW Safety Officer will coach on us how to safely and quickly move out of the way of the fire while still honoring the flag.
Helping ahead of time: A few of the flags are very large, stretching 3 ft across when folded! These large flags, and some of the other flags, require some preparation before the ceremony. If any of you would like to help Commander Spencer prepare these flags on Wednesday or Thursday evening, please contact him at (907)301-8478.
