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An Annandale school will help you retire Old Glory properly

Elizabeth A. Elliott | Catholic Herald Staff Writer

Boy Scouts process with the flags to be retired in Holy Spirit School in Annandale in 2017. BOB ROSE | COURTESY

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A box to collect old flags for retirement will be available until Nov. 4 at Church of the Nativity in Burke and Holy Spirit Church in Annandale.CAROLINE CHASE | COURTESY

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When Old Glory is torn and tattered, it’s time to bring in a
replacement. But what are you supposed to do with the old flag? A proper
retirement involves burning the flags. 

Holy Spirit Church in Annandale and Church of the Nativity in
Burke are collecting worn U.S. flags to be retired at Holy Spirit School, 8800
Braddock Rd., Annandale, Nov. 8 at 7:30 p.m. 

The ceremony will be conducted by the Fourth Degree Knights of
Columbus Msgr. Francis L. Bradican Assembly No. 2996 and the Boy Scouts. 

In addition to retiring the flags with dignity, the ceremony
recognizes selected veterans, first responders and clergy, presenting them with
new flags that were flown over cemeteries or monuments, such as the National
Fallen Firefighters Memorial in Emmitsburg, Md.

“We started this ceremony in 2008 and it provides a dignified and
honorable way for retiring flags,” said Bob Rose, a Knight and parishioner of
Holy Spirit. “It also is a community service since many people have an old used
flag that has done its service, and they have no knowledge of or way for proper
retirement.”

Honorees in attendance will include clergy, deacons, and Nativity
parishioner Ronald J. Shurer who recently was presented the Medal of Honor by
President Donald Trump. The West Point Alumni Glee Club will sing patriotic
songs to open the ceremony and a student from St. Paul VI Catholic High School
in Fairfax will play taps.  

A 50-gallon barrel with a burn cage is used to retire the flags
outside the gym of Holy Spirit School. 

The ceremony will include two traditions for the ceremonial
incineration. One flag is cut into the blue field with stars, and the 13 red
and white stripes. The flag is retired by each of the 14 segments. The 14th
segment is the blue field with the stars. 

A roll call for each stripe of the flag is conducted — Delaware,
Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Georgia, Connecticut, Massachusetts, Maryland, South
Carolina, New Hampshire, Virginia, New York, North Carolina and Rhode Island. 

The other flags are folded into a triangle, such as those
presented to the families of fallen service members. The ashes of the retired flags
are buried. 

“(The ceremony) is important to our principle of patriotism in
the Fourth Degree Knights,” said Rose. 

If you go

To retire old flags, drop them off at Church of the Nativity,
6400 Nativity Ln., Burke, and Holy Spirit Church, 8800 Braddock Rd., Annandale,
by Nov. 4.

 

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