Flint Hills communities marked Flag Day with patriotic ceremonies honoring the American flag and the veterans and residents who gathered to take part in the annual June 14 observance.
In Council Grove, Rebecca Elias of Frederick Phillips Post 121, said the post retired nearly 60 American flags during its Flag Day ceremony. Twenty-eight community members attended the event, joining post members in honoring flags that had become worn, faded or no longer fit for display.
Post members expressed appreciation to those who attended and also thanked the Council Grove Fire Department for its assistance. The department provided a water truck and helped cool the burn pit after the ceremony was completed.
In Chase County, the All Veterans Committee sponsored its annual American flag retirement ceremony June 14 at All Veterans Memorial Park. The ceremony began at 8 p.m. with Clay Childs, who has served as master of ceremonies for seven years, directing the event.
Patriotic music was provided by the Flint Hills Community Band, which performed from the park’s gazebo until dusk. During the ceremony, Marvin Adcock lowered the flag from the cenotaph flagpole as veterans saluted in respect. The retired flag was then placed on the burn pit, and a new flag was raised.
Taps was played after the retired flags were set on fire. Howard Taliaferro lit the flags, which numbered 186 this year. The flags had been torn, faded or otherwise worn from use. Last year’s ceremony included nearly 300 flags.
The ceremonies in Council Grove and Chase County reflected a shared Flint Hills tradition of honoring the nation’s flag with respect, remembrance and community participation.