U.S. Flag Retirement Ceremony - Please Join Us

Local Patriotic Service Organizations Come Together To Host Annual U.S. Flag Retirement Ceremony at Pier Park on Sat, Oct 13

Thanks to local patriotic service organizations and Farms officials, it has become a fall tradition to collect worn American flags and then host a flag retirement ceremony in October.

For the 7th consecutive year, the John Paul Jones Society, Children of the American Revolution (CAR); the Louisa St. Clair Chapter, NSDAR; and the Grosse Pointe Boy Scout Troop #96 will host their annual U.S. flag retirement ceremony at the Farms Pier Park. This year’s ceremony is Saturday, Oct 13 at 10 – 11 a.m. All are welcome.

If you have a worn U.S. flag and are unsure about how to respectfully dispose of it, bring it to the ceremony.

It is an inter-generational event, bringing children, parents and grandparents together.

A popular way to retire a worn American Flag is by burning it in a fire. The ceremony should be conducted with dignity and respect and the flag burned completely to ashes.

At the Farms flag retirement ceremony, the Boy Scouts dress in uniform and provide a color guard.

“It is a very patriotic and inspirational event,” says Evan Theros, 18 years old and Past President of the JPJ Society. Theros has participated every year.

Members of the John Paul Jones Society lead the ceremony in saying the “Pledge of Allegiance” and “The American’s Creed”. The Boy Scouts explain the symbolism of the flag, when to fly the flag, and other important flag facts. Members of the Troop then take turns placing the worn flags in a fire pit.

Following the ceremony, the John Paul Jones Society hosts a cider and donut reception for all guests, says President JPJ Society, Fiona Flynn, 16 years old.

The ceremony has grown in both participation and number of worn flags collected.

In recent years, there have been so many worn flags, there has not enough time to burn all the flags during the ceremony.

To inquire about the flag retirement ceremony contact Patti Theros at therospr@gmail.com or call the City of Grosse Pointe Farms at 313-885-6600.

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