The Retirement of a Flag
-story and photos by Katijane Shoffner
I’d never been to a Flag Retirement. It was certainly one of the most moving experiences I have ever seen. Sponsored by Express Chevrolet of Covington and Brownsville, it was held on the lot next to their dealership in Covington. Teaming up, the VFW, Express Chevrolet, and the Boy Scouts of America put this one together, complete with speakers Tipton Co. Sherriff Shannon Beasley, Covington Mayor Justin Hanson, and State Senator Paul Rose. There were veterans from WWII, Korea, Vietnam, Desert Shield, and Desert Storm there tonight. Ed Doyle of Express Chevrolet thanked everyone for being there, including the veterans, the VFW, the Boy Scouts, the police, sherriff’s department, the fire departmentand the speakers, and told us in some of his opening remarks, “There were only three people in the world that will shed blood for you: Jesus Christ, the American Soldier, and Law Enforcement.” He went on to say how important the American Flag is to our country, and to the people who have served under that flag.
Speakers continued in that vein, telling of the Flag’s creation at the birth of our country, talking about the ceremony that would take place, what the flag means to each of us, and the valor of the people that the flag represents. The colors of the flag were carefully considered during its creation - the red of the flag representing heartiness & valor along with the blood that was shed to grant our freedom from England and every other obstacle that has threatened that freedom, white representing purity and innocence, blue represents vigilance, perseverance, and justice. The stars represent the United States across our sovereign land, and the stripes represent the thirteen original colonies. Our Flag has stood for freedom for the last 245 years and withstood times of war and peace. Over 1.2 million men and women have laid down their lives for that Flag and our country. Paul Rose finished, saying, “It has been said, America is great because she is good, if she ever ceases to be good, she will no longer be great.” He also thanked everyone who had brought this together and everyone who was present, “who cared enough about this flag and our country, and I truly ask that God will bless you, the great state of Tennessee, and that God will bless the United States of America.”
Mr. Dan Brooks of the Boy Scouts of America, master of ceremonies, began the flag retirement ceremony. With over 500 flags to retire, it was a very large ceremony. As he began speaking, preparation work to begin burning, or retiring, the flags began.
He finished with a quote from our Flag:
“I’m more that just red, white, and blue cloth shaped into a flag, I’m a silent sentinel of freedom. People from every country in the world know me on sight. Many people love me as you do, others fear me and the might I bring with me, while others look at me with contempt because they don’t understand the freedoms I represent. Your sons gather beneath me on the battlefields to protect the freedoms I represent. That’s why I gather them in my arms when we bring them home after giving the ultimately sacrifice. Now I am tired, and it’s time for me to rest in the sacred flames. My colors are worn, and my cloth is tattered. But my spirit remains unbroken. ….If there is a tear in your eye, or a lump in your throat, …then I will be back the next time you need me, and my colors will be bright and my stripes will no longer be tattered. When I climb to the top of the flag pole, I will remember the love and respect that you have shown me here tonight. Let it be known to all that I will continue to be the enduring banner of the United States of America.”
Respectfully, your Flag.