By Debbie Adams
Members of local Scout Troops 235 from Vinton and 584 from Bonsack, their Scout leaders, and
veterans gathered at the Charles R. Hill Community Center on Nov. 8 for a special Flag
Retirement Ceremony on the weekend before Veterans Day.
According to the United States Flag Code, “The flag, when it is in such condition that it is no
longer a fitting emblem of display, should be destroyed in a dignified way, preferable by
burning.” Most of the retired flags have become tattered, torn, and faded due to weathering by
the sun, wind, and precipitation.
The retirement ceremony teaches Scouts that the American flag should be treated with care and
respect. “When a flag is too worn out to fly, we don’t just throw it away. We give it a proper
goodbye.”
Dozens, if not hundreds, of American flags were burned during the ceremony. Scouts prepared
the flags for retirement by folding them into a triangular fold with the ends tucked in before they
were placed in the incinerator. Some were so large that it was necessary to cut them into sections
before folding.
Three Scout siblings from Troop 584, Gage Kelley, Kasey Kelley, and Caedy Kelley, worked
together on preparing the flags for incineration. Their parents are Scout leaders; their younger
brother is a Scout, as well. Eagle Scout Gabriel Wilson and Jerry Thomas from Troop 235 also
participated, along with veteran E-5 Sgt. James Payne, who saw action during Desert Storm, and
his wife, Roxanne.
being retired for the incinerator.
Scouts have ever retired.
Veteran James Payne helps prepare flags for retirement.
Jimmy Doran, a former Roanoke County Firefighter/Paramedic/Training Officer, who facilitated
the event, and volunteer Chuck Moore manned the two incinerators in which temperatures reach
approximately 850 degrees, rather than a traditional burn barrel. Doran has noted that the
advantage of using incinerators is that they don’t emit the fumes that burn barrels do and they
have blowers, causing the fires to burn hotter.
He said that he receives calls on a weekly basis from individuals, organizations, and businesses
who have flags to retire. Many come from donations at Northwest Hardware.
