Friday is Flag Day.
Several local groups, including WoodmenLife Chapter 008 and the American Legion Post 778 in Butler- will come together to host a Flag Retirement Ceremony on Saturday in Butler County.
Organizers say the message and the event will capture the true detail of the respect our nation’s flag deserves and how- when they are no longer a fitting emblem of display- they must be destroyed in a dignified way, preferably burning.
Members of the community are encouraged to bring worn flags to this community celebration- on Saturday, June 15 beginning at 11 a.m.- at the American Legion Post 778 in Butler. Nonprofits that bring in flags to be retired will be given a new flag in return. The ceremony will begin at 11:00 am Sharp, but flags can be brought in until 12:30.
The ceremony will include a 21-gun salute from local marines, as well as assistance from Boy Scout Troop 30. The festivities will also include food and beverages provided by Woodmen Life Chapter 008.
WoodmenLife Chapter 008 is a fraternal organization linked to the well-known insurance provider, WoodmenLife. Something that may not be as well known: WoodmenLife is the second biggest purchaser of American flags, second only to the government. Since 1947, they have presented more than three million flags to worthy institutions.
“The flag stands for all that we hold dear – freedom, democracy, and a government of the people, by the people, and for the people,” said Jessica Truesdale, president of Chapter #008. “A ceremony of this nature holds great meaning for us.”
The ceremony is conducted as a service to the community and is open to the public. No reservations are needed. For more information about the flag retirement ceremony, or about WoodmenLife, contact WoodmenLife’s Regional Office at 724-431-1930.