Chester VFW holds ceremony for Flag Day
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CHESTER, W.Va. -- The Chester VFW (Veterans of Foreign Wars)/American Legion conducted an Unserviceable Flag Disposal Service outside the Chester VFW Hall Wednesday in observance of Flag Day.
"We provide a flag disposal of unserviceable flags, which are flags that have flown over ships or anywhere. When flags become tattered, they are supposed to be disposed of in a dignified manner," said Steve Quinn, Chester VFW/American Legion Honor Guard commander.
A dignified manner is typically burning a tattered flag in a ceremonial way such as the Unserviceable Flag Disposal Service.
The VFW/American Legion Honor Guard holds an Unserviceable Flag Disposal Service at the VFW every year on Flag Day.
The Chester VFW/American Legion Honor Guard, which includes Dan Oyster, U.S.A.F.; Gordon Greer U.S. Army; Michael Mazza, USMC; Curt Havens, U.S. Navy; Steve Quinn, U.S. Navy; and Chad Blewitt, U.S.A.F., conducted this year's ceremony which included reciting the Pledge of Allegiance, a short speech, a salute and lighting of the flag, and concluded with a prayer.
The honor guard does a ceremonial disposal for one flag and then disposes of the rest of them they receive by burning them, but not in an individual burning ceremony. Quinn said with the almost 300 flags they have to dispose of, it would take quite a long time.
The rest of the flags will be taken to WTI who will dispose of the flags by respectfully burning them.
"I see all these traditions and stuff and what we want to do is keep the veterans' causes and traditions going," Quinn said. "We want to recognize them whether its Vietnam, Iraqi or Afghanistan veterans; it doesn't matter, you're a veteran."
Quinn noted the next event for the honor guard will be the Fourth of July parade which they will be leading off by carrying the flags.
"We do Veterans Day; we do Memorial Day; we do everything we can to keep the veteran legacy alive," Quinn said.
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