SAUGUS — Saugus veterans honored Flag Day by properly disposing of used American flags in a ceremony at Breakheart Reservation.
“The most important thing I want people to know is that the flag is a symbol of hope and a symbol of freedom,” said Frank Manning, commander of the CPL. Scott J. Procopio American Legion Post 210. “To not show it the proper respect is wrong.”
Michael Iacone of Boy Scout Troop 635 constructed a fire pit to be used only for burning flags for his eagle scout service project. Thursday’s ceremony broke in the new fire pit, which is located at the edge of the woods at Breakheart Reservation. From now on, the ceremony will be held at the fire pit annually on Flag Day.
“I was a scout but I never became an eagle scout,” said Manning. “We have been very proud of these eagle scouts who have come out and done these projects for veterans. They’re basically supporting the veterans.”
Retired flags can be dropped off at a collection box at Saugus Town Hall or at the American Legion. In the past six months, about 1,000 flags were collected. Most of the flags are carefully disposed of in a cleaned out hopper at Wheelabrator Saugus. The ash from trash is kept separate from the ash from the flags, said Manning.
The others are burned once a year during a ceremony on Flag Day. They cannot be thrown away or shredded, they must be burned by the American Legion until they are only ash.
“As the commander of the American Legion, it is my responsibility to make sure they are properly burned,” said Manning, who also gives a speech about respecting the flag before each ceremony.
When he’s talking to children, he makes sure they understand the flag is not to touch the ground, and when it passes in a parade, it is to be acknowledged.
“The flag signifies hope, dreams, and a place where you can achieve your dreams,” said Manning. “The purpose of Flag Day is to honor the flag by disposing of it correctly.”
