American Legion to dispose of flags at ceremony on Flag Day

Warwick — Wednesday is Flag Day. Celebrating the flag is believed to have originated in 1885 by B.J. Cigrand, a schoolteacher in the Fredonia, Wisconsin, who observed June 14 as “Flag Birthday.” It was the 108th anniversary of the official adoption of The Stars and Stripes. Others followed including the governor of New York in 1894 who directed that on June 14 the flag be displayed on all public buildings. That same year, the American Flag Day Association was organized for the purpose of promoting Flag Day. Inspired by decades of state and local celebrations, President Woodrow Wilson officially established Flag Day in 1916. In 1949, President Harry Truman signed an Act of Congress designating June 14 — the anniversary of the Flag Resolution of 1777 - as National Flag Day. Prior to 1923, there were no federal or state guidelines governing the display of the stars and stripes. On June 14, 1923, the National Flag Code was constructed by representatives of the United States Army and Navy, along with other groups. There are also standards for disposing respectfully of a flag. On Wednesday, the Nicholas P. Lesando American Legion Post 214 will conduct its ceremony of burning flags that are not serviceable. “By the time we get the flags, they are pretty well used,” said Robert Ritzer, commander of the Warwick Legion Post. Ritzer said the ceremony is solemn but not necessarily formal. The flags, which come from individuals and businesses throughout the town, are placed in a 55-gallon metal drum and burned. It is coincidence that the burning will take place on Flag Day, Ritzer said. “It just so happens our regular meeting night is June 14, so we decided to do it before the meeting,” he said. Anyone with a flag that is soiled or torn may drop it off at the American Legion on Forester Avenue or at the Village Hall on Main Street. Ritzer said people may leave the flags either near the front door or by the shed located on the side of the building. Ritzer said he is hoping that Congress will pass the Flag Preservation Act, which would give legal protection to the flag. “Hopefully they will pass it this year to protect our flag,” he said. The following guidelines apply to flying the American flag and were found on Wikipedia.com • The flag should never be dipped to any person or thing, unless it is responding to a salute from a ship of a foreign nation. This tradition comes from the 1908 summer Olympics in London where countries were asked to dip their flag to King Edward IV. The American team captain refused, famously proclaiming that “this flag dips to no earthly king.”[ • The flag should be flown upside down only as a distress signal. • The flag should not be used as a drapery, or for covering a speaker’s desk, draping a platform, or for any decoration in general. Bunting of blue, white and red stripes is available for these purposes. The blue stripe of the bunting should be on the top. • The flag should never be used for any advertising purpose. It should not be embroidered, printed, or otherwise impressed on such articles as cushions, handkerchiefs, napkins, boxes, or anything intended to be discarded after temporary use. Advertising signs should not be attached to the staff or halyard. • The flag should not be used as part of a costume or athletic uniform, except that a flag patch may be used on the uniform of military personnel, firefighters, police officers, and members of patriotic organizations. (Note that on military uniforms, the flag patch is displayed with the stars facing forward, in the direction the wearer is facing. This is done to give the impression of the flag flowing in the wind while being carried forward across the battlefield. This is known as the ‘Reverse Field Flag’.) • The flag should never have placed on it, or attached to it, any mark, insignia, letter, word, number, figure, or drawing of any kind. • The flag should not be draped over the hood, top, sides, or back of a vehicle, railroad train, or boat. • When the flag is lowered, no part of it should touch the ground or any other object; it should be received by waiting hands and arms. To store the flag it should be folded neatly and ceremoniously. • The flag should be cleaned and mended when necessary. • When a flag is so worn it is no longer fit to serve as a symbol of the United States, it should be destroyed in a dignified manner, preferably by burning.