Flag Day
and
Annual Flag Retirement
June 14, 2012
On Flag Day, June 14, Compatriots Larry McKinley and Darrin Schmidt along with members of the Children of the American Revolution conducted the 9th annual flag retirement ceremony for the community at the Great Falls Freedom Memorial. The community donated a great number of flags for retirement this year, including many that had been flown at the graves of Revolutionary War Patriots. Members of the Great Falls Volunteer Fire Department, several returning from previous years, were again on hand to assist with the flag retirement and to ensure a safe ceremony.
The event was conducted near the Great Falls Freedom Memorial and also included members of the Washington D.C. Society, Thomas Nelson and Freedom Hill Chapters of the Daughters of the American Revolution, and members of the community.
Attendees read their parts of the ceremony in honoring the history and tradition of the Flag and Flag Day.
Attendees pose for a picture before beginning the process of retiring the flags.
A member of the C.A.R. prepares the next flag for retirement.
Firefighter Hall douses the fire after the flags have been properly retired.
Adults look on with envy as the youngest C.A.R. member gets to try out the fire departments fire extinguisher.