Veterans and Scouts perform flag retirement ceremony
Eastern Plumas Rural Fire Protection District flies the flag proudly outside of the Portola Veterans Memorial Hall at the flag retirement ceremony held Jan. 27. Photos submittedVFW Post 3758 and American Legion Post 329 held a flag retirement ceremony Jan. 27 at the Memorial Hall in Portola.
The veterans were assisted by Cub Scout Pack 60, with Cub Master Jeremy Espana and Den Leaders Tracy Harris and Brad Preston. Boy Scout Troop 60, out of Sierra Valley, also participated, with Scout Master Derrick Koch and lots of scouts in attendance.
Eastern Plumas Rural Fire Protection District brought over the “new to them” 9861 Ladder Truck, and flew a USA flag on its extended end along Highway 70. Chief Bob Frank, Captain Elaine Frank and EMT Sara Fischer assisted with the ceremony.
All tattered, faded or soiled USA flags must be retired in a respectful and honorable ceremony. The VFW does so during this ceremony by reciting the Pledge of Allegiance and placing the retired flags on a ceremonial fire. The ashes are then collected and buried at a future date.
Dave Rudolph of the VFW stated, “We still have boxes to collect flags that need retirement at Leonard’s, at Mountain Ace in Blairsden and at the Memorial Hall.”
