Flames leaped
into the air above two barrels outside Holy Spirit School in Annandale Nov. 8.
Scouts, Knights of Columbus and service men and women lined up one after
another each holding a tri-folded flag against their chest. One by one they
approached the barrels and placed their flag on a shovel held by Ralph
Rodriguez-Caraballo or Francisco Tavarez, who turned and respectfully placed
the flags into the flames.
It was a
flag-burning without the shouts of protesters but instead with bowed heads and
the respect given the retirement of a patriotic symbol.
More than 300
flags, including 15 different state flags, were retired in a solemn ceremony
conducted by the Fourth Degree Knights of Columbus Msgr. Francis L. Bradican
Assembly No. 2996 and the Boy Scouts.
Knight Sam
Morthland, faithful navigator, narrated the ceremony. He spoke of the apparent
contradiction of burning a flag when burning usually represents defiance.
“However,
tradition preserves a different significance in the case of our national
banner. Incineration remains the traditional method of retiring our flag,” he
said. “This does not mean simply lighting the flag on fire or tossing it into
the flames. On the contrary, it means retirement with dignity and in a manner
that pays tribute to the flag’s reflection of service to the nation and to its
citizens.”
Most people
never get to experience a flag retirement, but often they can in cojnunction
with the Girl Scouts and Boy Scouts, said Morthland.
Last week’s
ceremony included two traditions for the ceremonial incineration. One flag is
partitioned into “constituent portions” and retired by each of the 14 segments
to remind those in attendance of the specific symbolism of each element of the
flag.
A roll call
for each stripe of the flag is conducted representing the original 13 colonies
— Delaware, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Georgia, Connecticut, Massachusetts,
Maryland, South Carolina, New Hampshire, Virginia, New York, North Carolina and
Rhode Island.
The 14th
segment, which is never cut as it represents the union of the 50 states, is the
blue field with the stars.
The remaining
flags to be retired are folded into a triangle, such as when a flag is
presented to the family of fallen service members, or in recognition of
service.
Throughout
the transition of moving flags to the fire outside, members of the West Point
Alumni Glee Club sang patriotic songs.
After the
roll call for each stripe, the Scouts and Heritage Girls presented the
individual strips of the flag to be placed in the fire.
The other flag
bearers folded their arms across their chests cradling the tri-folded flags.
They held the flags by the corners as they placed them on the shovel before
being placed in the flames.
The ceremony
also honored veterans, first responders and clergy for their service by
presenting them with flags that had been flown at memorial or monument sites,
such as the National Fallen Firefighters Memorial in Emmitsburg, Md.
Brandy
Florio, an American Heritage Girls troop leader whose husband is deployed,
brought her children to the ceremony to teach them about the flag.
“I have two
little boys and I didn’t necessarily want them up late, but I do want them to
see that our flag is important and why it is important,” Florio said.
Ron Fauquet
was at the ceremony with an American Heritage Girls troop. “I hope they learn a
little more respect for the country and the flag,” he said.
Father John
M. O’Donohue, pastor, who served four years in the Marine Corps, led a prayer
at the beginning and end of the ceremony. “It’s important to honor our flag and
our nation and especially those who served and sacrificed for all the good
things and blessings we have received,” he said.
The ceremony
was important to the principle of patriotism in the Fourth Degree Knights.
Participants
were invited to sing “God Bless America” at the end of the ceremony. As the
final flag was carried to retirement, a recording of taps was played.
