VFW demonstrates flag retirement for Scouts

On Sept. 29, Veterans of Foreign Wars Lee Marts Post 3571 and its Ladies Auxiliary hosted an educational flag retirement ceremony for area Boy Scouts. During the year, post and auxiliary members receive dozens of damaged flags from Delta area communities.

For years they have had a private retirement ceremony for the U.S. and Colorado flags. Last year they partnered with area Scout leaders to give the Scouts a chance to learn the proper disposal techniques for honored, but worn out, flags.

After an opening presentation of the U.S. flag, recitation of the pledge of allegiance, singing of the national anthem, and prayer from post Chaplain Paul Carter, VFW Post 3571 Commander Dave Rowland and other post and auxiliary members explained to the Scouts, their leaders and their parents a bit of history of the flag and some flag etiquette about how old flags are to be retired. All Scouts present were able to take part in the retirement of nearly 75 flags following the honored ritual used by the Veterans of Foreign Wars.

The City of Delta allowed the VFW to use the grounds of Fort Uncompahgre for this ceremony, and the ashes of the retired flags were honorably buried by fort director Ken Reyher in the Fort Uncompahgre cemetery.

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