Cleveland Boy Scouts Hold Flag Retirement Ceremony

They were once proud symbols of our nation, but now, on Memorial Day, these American Flags that served for so long are now put to rest.

When a flag ceases to be a fitting symbol, it needs to be destroyed and be done so in a respectful manner. We are paying special tribute to those that have fallen heroes that provided the freedom we have today.

This is really just the troop as a whole just giving back and really the community I mean we've had flags from all over so it's just a nice way to sort of remember them and give back.

Troop 188 retired over 500 flags that were used in Cleveland, Chattanooga and even from the Tennessee Veterans Memorial in Madisonville. No matter how big or small, they are all treated with respect.

We have flags of all different sizes, from flags situated on desks then we have flags that are 30 feet by 60 feet that we've come across they all hold the same significance they are all flags and they are all symbols of the nation.

Every flag retirement ceremony is a solemn occasion. You won't see the boys being typical boys, laughing and having a good time they are certainly having a good time but it's just in a different way.

The solemn ceremony also teaches the proper way to dispose of our nation's symbol.
We fold all our flags and set them up on the table back here and they carry a flag across their heart with their arms across it and give it to two different people, and they unfold it and properly place it in the fire so it can be burned and we do that for every single one.

And while flag burning is normally considered a form of protest, when respectfully done it properly ends the service of each American flag.

When others burn the flag in protest they are doing it in a disrespectful way and they are disrespecting our country but when we do it we are showing gratitude for our country and everyone that has served it.