The West End Memorial American Legion Post 927 retired 2,400 tattered and discolored American flags on Sunday.

Flag retirement is the term used to define the proper, dignified way of destroying U.S. flags that are no longer fit for flying.

The flags that are no longer serviceable are presented to Legion commanders, who inspect them to make sure they should, in fact, be discarded.

A prayer was given by Chaplain Eileen McGuire.

“We ask that you bless these flags that your faithful have diligently flown with respect. We ask that you protect all those in our armed forces who serve to ensure that have the right to fly the flag to put themselves in harm’s way to protect the rights we ask that you receive into your kingdom all those who have God in our village. That allows us to fly the flag,” McGuire said.

According to custom and tradition, the flag is cut up and burned in this order: White signifies purity and innocence; red, hardiness and valor; and blue signifies vigilance, perseverance, and justice.

“The reason we have such a large number of flags to retire is we take care of the flags in different cemeteries and when we see a flag that is worn we take it to be retired and replace it with a new flag,” said veteran Art Wahl, the Sergeant at Arms for the Legion.

American Legion Post 927 has been holding flag retirements since 1946, according to Veteran John DeFazio.

“The white stripe represents the first 13 colonies and purity. The red stands for current and the blue stars the soul of America,” said Danny Insalata, post commander of the American Legion Post 927.