Hudson VFW Post 5791 Retires Flags

June 19, 2015

by Rhiannon Snide

Under normal circumstances burning an American flag would be a disgrace, but in efforts to properly dispose of the hundreds of faded and worn-out flags being stored at Hudson’s VFW Post, a flag retirement ceremony was held. The ceremony allowed the flags to be “destroyed in a dignified way,” Rob Everett, president of the Men’s Auxiliary, explained to begin the ceremony, “when a flag is in such condition that it is no longer a fitting emblem for display, it should be destroyed, preferably by burning.” Six members of the VFW carried out the ceremony.

Bryan Conant, VFW trustee, carried out the role of the service’s color guard; he presented the flags to Senior Vice Commander Mike Dustin and Junior Vice Commander Dave Ouellette for inspection. After the flags were deemed unfit for further usage, Jack Canatra, delivered the divine blessing to honor the unfit flags; allow them to be burned. The Hudson VFW hosts a flag retirement ceremony once a year, and welcomes all patrons of Hudson to leave their unsuitable flags with the VFW for storage until the proper ceremony can be conducted.