VFW Post 660 holds flag retirement ceremony in Savannah

SAVANNAH, Ga. (WTOC) - VFW Post 660 held an American Flag Retirement Ceremony Wednesday to honor the dignified retirement of flags that have become worn, faded or are unfit for continued display.

A speaker said during the ceremony: “...keep me always as a symbol of freedom, liberty, and peace in our country.”

A longstanding tradition

When an American flag is no longer fit for display, it should be destroyed in a dignified manner, preferably by burning.

Wednesday’s ceremony reflects this longstanding tradition of respect for the nation’s most recognized symbol of freedom and sacrifice.

Though the flag may have reached the end of its service, the ideals it represents endure, the VFW said.

A speaker said during the ceremony: “So it is now that I commit this flag, which no longer can fulfill its duties to the fire, so that it may be replaced with a new flag to prosper, to properly symbolize our nation. May the spirit of this flag be born again in the new flag that now flies.”

Public invited to attend

The ceremony offered the opportunity to reflect on the meaning of the flag and the generations of service members who have defended the nation’s freedoms. The public, along with veterans and military families, were invited to attend.

A speaker said during the ceremony: “I am more than just a piece of cloth. Shaped into a colorful design, I am the silent sentinel of freedom for the greatest sovereign nation on earth.”

Post leaders’ hopes

Leaders with Post 660 said they hope people leave the ceremony with a deeper appreciation for the flag and the people who defended it.

“Our flag is a symbol of our people, our freedom, and our strength,” a speaker said.