FILI Flag Retirement Ceremony with Troop 740 Evokes Patriotic Sentiments

It turned out to be a cool Saturday morning on, June 16, when the kids and I set out to head for downtown.

The Fayetteville Independent Light Infantry Brigade hosted a Flag Retirement Ceremony at 9:00a.m. A recent 5th grader from Vanstory Hills Elementary School, John Garner, participated on behalf of out Scout Troop 740.

It was very interesting to watch, I have to say. Men were dressed up like they just walked off of a revolutionary battlefield and bagpipes played patriotic music that filled your heart with pride. John Garner and two other members of the Troop, Tenderfoot 1st Class Grayson Pilloff, and Ben Howie, Star Class, handed out bulletins to the incoming people as the grounds filled up.

"The ceremony felt patriotic and it was fun to be a part of," said John Garner. "I felt it was cool to be a part of it since my dad is deployed again."

A scout has to be apart of a Flag Retirement Ceremony to earn a certain rank. As Ben's dad, Nathan Howie, one of the Troop Leaders said, "You can't get more patriotic than this!"

People came dressed in Red, White and Blue along with boys from other Boy Scout Troops, Cub Scout Packs, and Adventure Scouts. Off to the side, under the tree, were women cutting up the flags, preparing them for the fire. The flag has to be taken apart appropriately with the stripes cut and separated from the stars. Upon finishing that, it is folded and placed in the fire. Once the fire was ready, each Cub Scout, Boy Scout, and Adventure Scout took turns presenting the flags to the men of  the FILI, who then turned and placed each one individually into the heat of the fire.

Being present for such a reverent ceremony, you had to wonder where all of these flags had flown. Had they stood out in front of a family owned business? Had one flown on Fort Bragg while awaiting a flight of soldiers to come home from war town countries into the waiting arms of their families? Maybe one flew at a nursing home or at an Elementary School where children learned how to carefully raise and lower it, making sure it never touched the ground.

These flags represented OUR country, The United States of America. They each stood for patriotism, individuality, service, and above all else; freedom. These flags were retired gracefully as new ones were raised in their place all over town. As the colors were retired marking the end of the ceremony, you could feel the reverence among the people present.

We all stood a little taller that morning as we walked away knowing the proper respect had been given. We were all a part of a moment in history. Young and old, differences set aside for a short time on a cool Saturday morning in June.