Local members of the American Legion held a celebration for “Old Glory” on Friday. The members retired the old red, white and blue flags by burning them. They were celebrating the 236th birthday of the U. S. flag and the 238th birthday of the United States Army.
Around two dozen people took time Friday evening to honor and pay tribute to Old Glory. The legionnaires paid tribute to the flag and celebrated the birthday of the Army with patriotic songs, poetry reading, a birthday cake and flag burnings.
Monroe Edwards, chaplain at Post 133, said that on Flag Day the burning of the flags is an honorable disposal, committing them to eternal fire and officially marking retirement.
“The flag is a symbol of unity and devotion to freedom,” he said. “These flags have been worn out in worthy service.”
More than 200 old faded, torn, mildewed and dirty flags of all sizes and fabric were disposed of in old oil barrels behind the Myron G. Danielson American Legion Post No. 85 in Hospital Grounds, Christiansted.
Businesses and citizens of the community dropped off unserviceable flags at the American Legion Hall for disposal.
“Every Memorial day we put new flags on veterans’ graves on St. Croix,” said Charles David, commander of District 10. “We have to burn all of the ones we removed.”
David said they have been burning the flags as long as there has been an American Legion on St. Croix. The flags burned had flown over Government House, cemeteries, courthouses and local businesses. They also burned Virgin Islands flags.
During the ceremony the Pledge of Allegiance was recited and the National Anthem and V.I. March were played. Reading the poem “I Am the Flag of the United States of America” were Secundino Roman -Cruz, area commander from Post 102; Amos Sealey, commander of Post 85; and Curtis Williams, commander of Post 133. The people in attendance sang “America the Beautiful” and “America.”
Roxanne Williams-Miller from Post 85 read the Flag Day proclamation written by Gov. John deJongh Jr..
“The flag is a rallying symbol,” David said. “Veterans fight for it and Americans cherish it.”
The celebration continued with a march to the flagpole in front of the Legion Hall with a ceremonial lowering of the U.S. flag. The comrades then marched to the backyard of the hall, where the flag-disposal ceremony took place.
The occasion was first celebrated in 1877, the centennial of the American flag’s existence. Many citizens and organizations advocated the adoption of a national day of commemoration for the U.S. flag. President Harry Truman signed legislation in 1949 making Flag Day a day of national observance.
They also celebrated the 238th birthday of the United States Army. The Army’s simple creed says "This We’ll Defend." Since the Minutemen answered the call to Lexington and Concord until today, the American flag has been that herald of liberty and freedom.
They even had a birthday cake cutting ceremony with Sen. Alicia “Chucky” Hansen lending a hand with the knife cutting a red, white and blue cake.
