COAL TOWNSHIP - Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 317 will hold a flag retirement ceremony on Flag Day, Thursday, June 13, beginning at 6 p.m. at the Coal Township Municipal Building, 805 W. Lynn St.
The ceremony is open to the public. People are urged to bring with them any old and tattered American flags they wish to be retired. Anyone attending should bring a lawn chair.
The Coal Township VFW dedicated a flag drop-off box in July 2003. It is placed in front of the Coal Township Municipal Building for the public to drop off any worn or tattered American flag for proper disposal.
Due to the huge success of the box and old flags collected from local cemeteries, a flag retirement ceremony has become necessary. Every week, a member of the post collects the flags from the box. Since its dedication in July 2003, the post has collected well over 175,000 American flags in various sizes, and the post is grateful for those who choose to use the drop-off box.
The ceremony is usually conducted privately, but the Coal Township VFW decided to make it open to the public to let everyone experience and be informed about the proper protocol for retiring old and worn American flags. The Shamokin American Legion Post 73 will join in the ceremony, which will involve the proper protocol and end with patriotic music.
The Coal Township VFW expressed appreciation to the Coal Township Board of Commissioners and the Maine Fire Company for their permission and assistance in making the ceremony possible.