ROANOKE RAPIDS — They did it to honor veterans, said Chapter President of the Halifax Resolves North Carolina Society of the Sons of the American Revolution Ken Wilson, USAF (Ret.). Boy Scout Troop 146, AMVETS Post 32, AMVETS Post 101 and the Halifax Resolves Chapter NCSSAR sponsored their third United States Flag Retirement Ceremony this year, Saturday at Centennial Park with all the “Pomp and Circumstance,” befitting such an honorable undertaking.

Della Batts | The Daily Herald Vice President and Burn Master Dave Hoaglan of the Halifax Resolves Chapter of the North Carolina Society Sons of the American Revolution watched the fire, while the flag he loves is retired from use. The ashes from the Flag Retirement Ceremony held at Centennial Park Saturday will be scattered in a cemetery in Halifax. Advertisement

Wilson said more than 300 flags were gathered for the ceremonial burning. He explained there are only two ways to retire the U.S. Flags. “The code says you either burn it or bury it,” he said. According to Wilson the ceremony is a way of being respectful. “You’ll hear different poems and different things at each ceremony.”

Wilson said fewer people these days know and understand the importance of the flag. While there are no laws governing how people display the flag, there are uniform codes (Title 4 of the U.S. Code Chapter 1 Section 4-10) to follow. That’s why, he said, they invite everyone to participate in the retirement ceremony. It provides an opportunity to educate the public.

At this ceremony there was the presentation of colors, poems and toasts to the flag. Everyone said the Pledge of Allegiance and April Clemonts sang the National Anthem.

As the flames were prepared, James Tuck of Troop 146 explained, “We use Redwood to remind us of the red blooded Americans who fought and died to build our nation under this flag. We use oak for the rugged strength that carried the flag across this nation and today reaches for the stars. Cedar is used to protect us from pestilence and corruption and preserve our American way of life. Finally, walnut reminds us of the rich soil, the beautiful countryside and the fruitful brotherhood founded by our ancestors.”

Scouts delivered the flags one by one, with reverence to Burn Master Dave Hoaglan, who lovingly placed each one in the flames. When asked later what it means to him to be the Burn Master, Hoaglan said it was an honor for him and his family. “We trace our family back to the Revolutionary War ... they fought in that war,” he said. “It’s a huge honor to represent my family. I get emotional.”

After the public was dismissed, people gathered around the fire to ask Hoaglan questions about the ceremony. He took his time with them, throwing in a few jokes and giving them riddles as he taught them flag etiquette.

“Which flag has never had to come down in the 41 years that it’s been displayed,” he asked a group of young scouts and parents who gathered around his table. They were all perplexed, but some ventured a guess.

Finally Hoaglan said, “It’s on the moon!” The crowd was delighted. “I didn’t even think about that one,” said one of the parents. The children laughed. Hoaglan unfurled one of the flags, then began to teach them the meaning of the stars and stripes.

The ashes from Saturday’s ceremony will be scattered in a cemetery in Halifax.  If you would like to learn more about the U.S. flag, call the American Legion Post 38 at 537-0161. Ask for a copy of “Flag of the United States — The Living Symbol of Our Great Republic — How to Display it, How to Respect it.”