Scouts, veterans and historians will conduct an American flag “retirement service” in which flags no longer serviceable will be ceremonially burned.
The carefully scripted ritual will be at USS LST 393 Veterans Museum Sunday, Nov. 10 at 1p.m. The public is invited.
Flags that are worn, torn, faded or badly soiled should be “retired,” according to U.S. law. In most ceremonies, flags are cut into pieces (but the field of stars is never to be cut or “divided”) and then incinerated. Many organizations, like the Boy Scouts and the American Legion, have formal procedures to follow during the ceremony.
Muskegon Boy Scouts of America Troop 1053 will conduct the observance. Adult leaders will cut flags collected over the past year by various organizations and then supervise the burning.
A 21-gun salute will be fired by the Honor Guard of Muskegon’s American Legion Post 9.
Laws concerning respect for the flag say U.S.
