Wyckoff BSA Troop 77 Retire Flags

20 JUNE 2013

This evening at 7 PM members of Boy Scout Troop 77, sponsored by Bethany Church of Wyckoff, along with Township of Wyckoff and Wyckoff Volunteer Fire Company # 1 retired a number of worn out, damaged, or torn United States Of American Flags.

Having only seen this done once before this writer was moved by the way Troop 77 conducted this important ceremony, not seen by many.

It is a fitting tribute to our Country and our Flag. It is solemn and reflective.

The members of BSA Troop 77 conducted a wonderful program which honored our older flags and honored each Scout who participated.

A welcome was provided by Mr. Rob Andrews, Scoutmaster.

Next led by Senior Patrol Lead David Delanni a very dignified program began.

David was flanked by Sean Coughlin and Jake Valente holding the colors of the USA and their own scout troop

There were readings of different many interesting pieces about our Flag. Bill Griffin read “Remember Me” which is a history of our flag in the first person of the flag speaking to us. Ben Moloznik read the piece “Old Glory” which gives an account of how our Flag received that name. Dante Farres gave the reading on respect for our Flag. And finishing with Patrick Jackson explaining how a Flag is retired, properly.

Mayor Rudy Boonstra had a number of remarks, one of which sticks right now. Mayor Boonstra spent a moment of how our flag has evolved and even in his and my lifetimes stars were added to the field of blue. It reminded me of when he and I would see a flag with only 48 stars as youngsters growing up in Wyckoff.

What made this ceremony unique to me was the “procedure” used to retire a flag. I never knew that a flag, to be retired, is separated into the stripes and the blue field. And then each section is burned one at a time with the blue field being last. And so I must thank the Scouts informing us of these facts.

The photos show the process and each scout burning each section.

Suffice to say it was a very inspiring ceremony. And a most welcome moment when these young men take the time and the effort to provide Wyckoff with a distinctive and laudable time to retire our “senior” Flags.

I might also note that through the kind consideration of William Brock there is a place to leave your old flags for proper disposal. You may leave at the place provided by Vander Plaat Funeral Home at 257 Godwin Avenue, Wyckoff.

To close, hopefully I have the names correct on the images above.