Properly retiring Old Glory

Cadets and senior officers from the Civil Air Patrol – Rhode Island Wing gathered July 7 to take part in an American flag retirement ceremony held at the West Bay Composite Squadron Headquarters, located at the West Warwick VFW Post #449. Members of the West Bay Composite Squadron and the 102nd Composite Squadron located in North Smithfield took part in the official “retirement” of United States flags. Several hundred flags of all sizes and conditions were properly retired in a ceremony that lasted about an hour. In the final stage of the ceremony, the flags were solemnly brought out to one of two burning fires, where each participant then approached the fire, where they were met by members of the Color Guard who stood at attention as they placed the flags upon the fire, then rendered the proper customary salute. Here, C/MSgt Carolyn M. Lussier (front) and C/SSgt Amira Aderibigbe bring flags to the waiting fire for proper retirement.