Now that Memorial Day is behind us and summer lay ahead, many people start thinking about their Independence Day festivities: buying fireworks, planning cookouts, etc. Between now and then, however, is a holiday that, tragically, is all too often overlooked.

Your Manchester American Legion Post 78’s annual Flag Retirement Ceremony is currently scheduled for Saturday, June 13 at 5 p.m., at the Coffee County Veterans Building: 130 Shelton Road in Manchester. All members of the public, especially school age students, are encouraged to attend and learn more about our American Flag; and why old flags should always be ceremonially destroyed, with dignity and honor, according to prescribed ritual.

This ceremony is held each year on or near June 14, which is Flag Day – a holiday set aside for Americans to celebrate our national colors, the Stars & Stripes, in defense of which over a million men and women have sacrificed their lives.

This is a great time to replace any worn, faded, frayed or otherwise unserviceable flags with a new one. In addition to your own, look around you for any neighbors who may be sick or elderly: and offer to replace theirs as well if needed.

The American Flag, by law, is never to be thrown away in the trash! NEVER! Your Coffee County Veterans Association has four outdoor receptacles around Manchester, into which old flags may be deposited year-round. Your local veterans’ organizations, led by the American Legion, store the flags for annual retirement. We hope you and your family will join us for this enlightening event.

G. Lamar Wilkie

USN (Ret.)

Manchester