WANTED: Worn, torn or faded flags for retirement ceremony

  • Published
  • By 2nd Lt. Miles Morse
  • 47th Flying Training Wing public affairs
LAUGHLIN AIR FORCE BASE, Texas --  WANTED: All worn, torn or faded flags representing our nation's colors to retire at 6:00 p.m., Sept. 11 at the Val Verde County Fairgrounds Grandstand.

Steve Rosalez, 47th Maintenance Directorate, calls for all old flags to be respectfully retired by PROJECT: Pledge of Allegiance.

Years after a large number of citizens purchased the U.S. flag, following the attacks on 9/11, Rosalez noticed the poor condition of many of those proudly flown symbols. He took it upon himself to respectfully ask to retire these flags for the owners, he said.

During the span of the past four years, Rosalez supported the project providing nearly 400 flags each year to retire. The ceremony, conducted by Del Rio Scouts, gives each flag a "dignified retirement" as stated by the U.S. Code, Title 36 Chapter 10.

"The ceremony has three main purposes," said Rosalez. "To retire worn, torn or faded flags with the required ceremony, to give the youth from the Del Rio area a sense of civic responsibility and lastly, to educate the public on the proper care of our nation's colors."

Rosalez stressed the need to educate the public about proper flag customs. He explained that many citizens have misconceptions about instances such as the retirement of the colors. The U.S. Code only requires the flag be disposed in a dignified way rather than a specific ceremony.

"It is near and dear to my heart," Rosalez said after illustrating his childhood growing up as a military dependent and spending 20 years in the military.

"I hope everyone takes the time to check to see if their flag is in good repair," he said, while urging everyone to, "Go ahead and fly one."

For more information, or to turn in a flag to retire, please contact Steve Rosalez at (830)765-6455.