Scouts retire banners during Flag Day event

By Melissa McCaghren

Slatonite GM

American flags flew high around Slaton Wednesday afternoon (June 14) during Flag Day.

Members of the Slaton FFA placed the flags in front of homes and businesses that purchased a flag to be displayed during several holidays, then collected them in the early evening.

While these flags were in pristine condition, recent high winds, duststorms, rain and other conditions, several flags have been torn up to the point they are no longer usable.

So, Cub Scout Pack 127 worked to find a way where the flags were retired with honors.

There was a flag retirement ceremony conducted at the Veteran Memorial in County Park later Wednesday evening.

Approximately 50 flags were retired by fire, which fits U.S. Code § 8 – Respect for the flag, section K: “The flag, when it is in such condition that it is no longer a fitting emblem for display, should be destroyed in a dignified way, preferably by burning.”

Scoutmaster Jeremy Barbee said the event here started with one conducted in Lubbock.

For more information, please read the Thursday edition of The Slatonite.