'RETIRED WITH DIGNITY'
Flag Day ceremony marks the end for nearly 700 worn and tattered banners at Greenlawn Southwest
Faded, worn, tattered, torn.
Despite their aging and failing condition, each one of the 647 American flags slated for “retirement” had first been folded carefully into a traditional triangle and placed in large coffin-shaped boxes.
Steve and Leca Gerber, of Bakersfield Young Marines, make sure of it. Every time.
“Each flag has to be folded first,” Steve Gerber said.
How many folds? someone asked.
“Thirteen folds,” said the U.S. Navy veteran who served in Vietnam.
It was a warm Friday morning, and a modest crowd of about four dozen pledged allegiance to the flag of the United States of America, and to the Republic for which it stands.
It was National Flag Day at Greenlawn Cemetery Southwest, and as in past years, the day was both a celebration of the importance and meaning of the Stars and Stripes, as well as a day of retirement for hundreds of old flags, retirement with respect and dignity.
Each banner, sometimes referred to as “Old Glory,” had faithfully served its purpose — waving in local front yards or flying atop neighborhood flag poles or company headquarters — symbols of a nation born of a collective desire for justice, liberty and independence.
Third District County Supervisor Jeff Flores was there on what he called a “noble day.”
“To me, I stand here not just as a Kern County supervisor, but as a fellow American,” Flores said.
He described the 13 alternating red and white stripes, symbolizing the original 13 Colonies, and the union of 50 white stars in a field of blue, symbols of the nation’s 50 states, as a “beacon of hope, freedom and unity for nearly 2½ centuries.”
Soon the gathering became a funeral procession, and the coffins on rolling carts were followed by the gathering of Young Marines, Sons of the American Revolution, Olive Drab Drivers and other attendees.
The four cardboard caskets were wheeled to Greenlawn’s
crematorium.
Greenlawn makes retiring one’s old flag easy and honorable. In the past five years, more than 10,000 old flags had been dropped off at Greenlawn Southwest by area residents, where Greenlawn offers its crematory at no cost to respectfully dispose of the aging banners.
In days past, hundreds of flags were respectfully burned in backyard fire pits or one at a time by veterans organizations and the Young Marines.
“We got to where we were burning so many, it was unreasonable,” said Leca Gerber.
Instead, Greenlawn volunteers to do it as a community service.
“They have an air permit from the (San Joaquin Valley) Air Pollution Control District,” said Steve Gerber. “And they have to meet certain standards to burn.
“I work at a power plant. I understand emission limits, and you can’t exceed those,” he said. “This is a very clean way to do it.”
So it turns out that this newer Flag Day protocol is not only the patriotic thing to do, it’s the environmental thing to do.
Celebrated each year on June 14, Flag Day commemorates the adoption of the flag of the United States on June 14, 1777, by resolution of the Second Continental Congress. But it wasn’t until 1916 that President Woodrow Wilson designated June 14 Flag Day. Another 30 years would pass before President Harry Truman signed a resolution making Flag Day a permanent observance.
Many Americans display the flag at their home or place of business. But sometimes faded or tattered flags are left up too long.