Members of the Summit Hill American Legion Post 316, the Auxiliary, and members of the Notre Dame Club of Schuylkill County held a Flag Retirement Ceremony on Saturday at the Legion building, 100 E. Lehigh St.

Canopies were set up behind theLegion to keep the members and the flags relatively dry, and two burn barrels were aflame.

“This is how you show respect for the country and to the people that served in the military, past and present, and the POWs,” Commander, Master Sgt. Daniel Wehr, U.S. Marine Corps/U.S. Air Force, retired, said of the ceremony. “It’s a good thing that we show respect.”

The U.S. Flag Code says, “The Flag, when it is in such condition that it is no longer a fitting emblem for display, should be destroyed in a dignified way, preferably by burning.” When an American flag is worn beyond repair, it should be retired in a respectful manner.

The Summit Hill American Legion collects the old, tattered, discolored and torn flags throughout the year from Summit Hill, Lansford, and Coaldale, and holds the ceremony to properly dispose of the flags.

There were many boxes, barrels and bags of old, worn out flags. Because of the rain, not all the flags were going to be burned on Saturday, but they will continue to be burned until all the flags are gone.

Post Commander Daniel Wehr, led the ceremony, aided by Assistant Commander, Master Sgt. Brad Jones.

“Comrade commander,” Assistant Commander Jones said, “we have the honor to present for inspection and retirement the colors, which have served our post for many years.”

He also presented flags that flew over the graves of deceased military men and women, plus other flags dropped off by residents.

Legion members Stan Karnish, Post 316 SALs commander; and Joe Zubek, Post 316 SALs finance officer, served as inspectors to confirm the condition of the flags and recommend their disposal.

‘Precious symbol’

“A flag may be a flimsy bit of printed gauze or a beautiful banner of the finest silk,” Christine Novy-Miller, Post 316 Auxiliary financial secretary read. “Its intrinsic value may be trifling or great; but, its real value is beyond price, for it is a precious symbol of all that we and our comrades have worked for and live for and died for; a free nation of free men and women, true to the faith of the past, devoted to the ideals and the practice of justice, freedom and democracy.”

“The American Legion and the Notre Dame Club got together, Jeff Szczecina organized everything,” Commander Wehr explained. “It’s good that different groups work together.”

Also taking part in the ceremony were Paul McArdle, United States Army; Clem Midas, U.S. Navy; Amy Jones, Post 316 Auxiliary president; and Chaplain Gregory Miller, U.S. Air Force.

Taps was performed by Kevin O’Donnell, U.S. Army.

“I want to thank everyone who helped to support this, to Commander Dan Wehr, and everyone that’s a part of this,” Jeffrey Szczecina exclaimed. “It’s a dignified way to represent our fallen soldiers.”