EATON — Preble County Council on Aging (PCCOA) held a flag retirement ceremony on Thursday, Friday, July 12. American Legion Post 215, The Daughters of the American Revolution Preble Chapter of Eaton, Preble County Honor Guard, and Boy Scout Troop 78 came together to run the ceremony.
PCCOA kicked off the ceremony by hosting lunch in the Decades Diner. Following, Ben Thaeler, District Director for the Office of Congressman Warren Davidson, spoke about Congressman Davidson and ongoing political issues.
Veteran Jake Dailey helped the Daughters of the American Revolution distribute Vietnam Veteran Service Lapel Pins to those who have yet to receive them.
“This national commemoration was authorized by Congress, established under the Secretary of Defense, and launched by the President in May 202. Under the auspices of the Department of Defense with only a small office and staff, they rely on the dedicated efforts of commemorative partners such as the Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR) to bring this Commemoration to life in hometown American,” he said.
“Through the dedicated efforts of these partners, seven million living Vietnam Veterans and the families of nine million who served are being thanked and honored where they live and work by neighbors, family, and friends. These partners are hosting thousands of public ceremonies in towns and cities throughout the country during which Vietnam Veterans and their families are recognized for their service.”
He also welcomed those in attendance with the following words.
“This Flag, which we Honor and under we serve, is the Emblem of our unity, our power, our thought and purpose as a Nation. It has no character than that which we give it from generation to generation. The choice is ours. Those words are from President Woodrow Wilson June 14, 1917,” he said.
“This Ceremony is a solemn and dignified event. The U.S. Flag code title four section 8K stipulates, when a U.S. Flag is in such condition that it is no longer a fitting emblem for display, it should be destroyed in a dignified way preferably by burning.
“Why burning? Throughout history burning or cremation has been considered a dignified way of paying respect to the deceased and to objects worthy of veneration, therefore burning has been applied to flag retirement to provide the most reverent method of final tribute.”
Next, the retirement ceremony was held by the flag pole in front of the Senior Center. The DAR read song lyrics by Andrew Dean and shared the history of the United States Flag.
American Legion Post 215 members folded the flag and performed the retirement ceremony, ending in the burning of the flag.
