Old Flags Have New Resting Place on Miami Beach

MIAMI BEACH — City officials dedicated a new resting place for old flags on Wednesday during an evening ceremony that also marked the 75th anniversary of the bombing of Pearl Harbor.

Representatives from the Miami Beach Fire and Police departments were on hand at Fire Station No. 4 for the unveiling and dedication of a "Flag Drop Station" on Pearl Harbor Day in partnership with Girl Scout artist Angelina Gold.

The event included a Sunset Flag Retirement Ceremony where Girl Scouts and firefighters presided over a tattered and torn flag burning.

Four military service men and woman, who are also part of the police and fire units, presented the tattered flags to 25 veterans — including 94-year-old Navy veteran Gordon Read who fought in Pearl Harbor and the southwest Pacific during World War II.

Miami Beach Fire Chief Virgil Fernandez said the collaborative event served as a reminder to the importance of paying proper respect to the nation's "most iconic symbol of freedom."

The station will be open to the public for disposal of flags.

“We look forward to housing a permanent flag drop station for our community to properly dispose of their torn and tattered American flags," Fernandez added.

Photo courtesy of City of Miami Beach.