American Legion retires Old Glory

It took the American Legion at Thompson Falls less than 30 minutes to put more than 200 flags to the flames in a proper retirement for Old Glory last Monday.

"A flag may be a flimsy bit of printed gauze or a beautiful banner of finest silk. It's 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 died for - a free nation of free men and women, true to the faith of the past, devoted to the ideals and practice of justice, freedom and democracy," said Ken Matthiesen, commander of American Legion Post 52 at the beginning of the retirement ceremony in the parking lot of Elk Club 2757, where the Legion regularly meets.

As the dozen post members formed for the annual observance, Legion member Marv Tanner played "Taps" on his cellphone. Sergeant at Arms Don Burrell reported to Vice Commander Al Aschenbrenner and Matthiesen that the flags were indeed unserviceable, showing a representative sample of the U.S. flags there for the ceremony. Bob Jackson, the post chaplain, led in prayer.

It was on June 14, 1777, in the midst of the Revolutionary War, that the Continental Congress adopted a resolution to select the American flag and approved the design of the national ensign. "The flag of the United States shall be thirteen stripes, alternate red and white, with a union of thirteen stars of white on a blue field," according to the resolution. In 1916, President Woodrow Wilson proclaimed June 14 as Flag Day, but it wasn't until 1949 when President Harry S. Truman signed legislation that officially made that day Flag Day every year. 

Post 52 doesn't hold a flag retirement every year, and it didn't have one last year because there weren't enough flags, but when it does, it conducts it on Flag Day. There is a collection box for people to drop off unserviceable flags at Harvest Foods in Thompson Falls. "I can not think of a more appropriate time to retire the symbol of our nation," said Matthiesen, who has participated in a flag retirement ceremony three times, but this was his first as post commander. "I remember learning the Pledge of Allegiance in a one room country school. The older students would raise the flag while the younger ones stood with their right hand, or hat, over their heart.  I recall relearning the pledge when 'under God' was added in 1954," said Matthiesen, who served in the Navy from 1966-1971 and the Army from 1972-1995, retiring as a first sergeant.  

There is no law that requires that an American flag be disposed of in a specific manner, but according to the U.S. Flag Code, it is recommended that a flag that is no longer usable "should be destroyed in a dignified and ceremonious fashion, preferably by burning."

"I hate to see them burn, but I hate it more if people just threw them away," said the 71-year-old Ron Chisenhall, a Thompson Falls resident and a Vietnam War veteran who served in the Army from 1970-1973. Plains resident Bill Beck, a retired Navy senior chief and past post commander, said he gets a patriotic feeling each time he participates in the ceremony.

The flags were placed in one of four metal barrels the Legion had set up for the ceremony and soon flames and smoke poured from the barrels. Members first doused each flag with gas so they would burn faster. Even ones that had been folded, were undone so they would burn quicker, said the 81-year-old Beck, who also participates in the VFW Post 3596 flag retirement held on Dec. 7 each year. He said it's a solemn ceremony and should be done with reverence and dignity.

There were more than 200 U.S flags placed in the barrels, mostly one at a time, but Matthiesen said there were three or four batches of small ones that were burned together. "There were a large number of very small three by five flags on wooden staffs. I would call them table flags," said Matthiesen. "We had a number of burial flags that are five by nine and a half feet. One individual burned a personal flag in memory of his departed brother," he said. Some of the flags appeared with only slight wear to them while others were extremely tattered and in shreds. They also retired six Montana state flags, one Navy flag, one Marine Corps flag, and one Los Angeles County flag.

Thirteen Legion members took part in the ceremony. Jackson, a Hot Springs resident, is a Vietnam veteran who served in the Army and Navy. Aschenbrenner spent 33 years in the Air Force and Navy, from 1955 to 1988, with his last 14 years in the Navy Seabees. Ron Rider of Trout Creek was a Korean War veteran in the Navy. 

"The flag deserves the respect to be put away with honors," said 83-year-old Ted Hoglund, a soldier from 1954 to 1962 and a Thompson Falls resident. "It's almost like a cremation ceremony - it's like saying goodbye to a comrade," said Hoglund, who believes he's participated in the Legion ceremony for around 14 years. Marv Tanner was in the Army, serving in Vietnam in 1970 and 1971. 

"It was difficult for me to maintain composure. I lost friends in Vietnam," said Matthiesen, who added that a flag retirement is a fitting ceremony and the right thing to do. "And my family is deeply patriotic with many serving in the Second World War. Also, my wife›s family members were in the Civil War."