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By Rama K. Ramaswamy
At the end of April, the Department of Veterans' Services and the Wellesley Veterans' Organizations, along with the families of veterans buried at the cemetery, invited local scouts for the annual flag replacement community service event. As the flags were replaced, old flags are separated by volunteers and packed away.
Parents and scouts alike asked: “what happens to the old flags?” The veterans explained that the old flags are “retired” and burned at a very special ceremony on Flag Day (June 14).
A trumpeter plays ‘Taps’ on Flag Day.
The Girl Scouts led the "Pledge of Allegiance.” There were two High School trumpeters on hand to play “Taps” in echo-effect - that is, in rapid succession with only a few staggered seconds in between. According to Amy van der Wal and scout-daughter, Johanna,
“I think it was a meaningful ceremony to learn and gain more respect for the American flag,” said Amy van der Wal and her Scout daughter, Johanna. “The Commander's speech was especially moving - describing the flag as more than fabric but a precious symbol we have worked, lived and died for. I would say for myself, I didn't think much about Flag Day before but having read and heard the words of the Retirement Service, I won't look at the American Flag the same way again!”
Part of the Commander’s speech was as follows, “Comrades, we have presented here these Flags of our country which have been inspected and condemned as unserviceable. They have reached their present state in a proper service of tribute, memory and love. A flag may be a flimsy bit of printed gauze, or a beautiful banner of finest silk. Its intrinsic value may be trifling or great; but its real value is beyond price, for it is a precious symbol of all that we and our comrades have worked for and lived for, and died for- a free nation of free men and women, true to the faith of the past, devoted to the ideals and practice of justice, freedom and democracy. Let these faded flags of our country be retired and destroyed with respectful and honorable rites and their places be taken by bright new flags of the same size and kind, and let no grave of our soldier, sailor, or airman dead be un-honored and unmarked. Comrades, these flags may now be destroyed by burning. The members shall stand at attention.”
