Lessons in flag etiquette — Douglas Legion members say farewell to flags
DOUGLAS — Ever since Betsy Ross stitched her last stitch on “Old Glory,” the American flag has been a sacred item that is treated with the utmost respect. Even in retirement, instead of being thrown out and replaced, the flag is burned in a ceremony much like the one held last week at the American Legion Samuel Mares Post #8.
“It’s the symbolic representation of properly disposing of a flag that has served its purpose,” Legion Commander Tom Sheredy said whimsically. “It flies through the air, (but) once it’s done, it flies through the air again one more time.”
For the ceremony, held on each fifth Tuesday, members of the Legion take flags from its flag drop box and elsewhere and, one by one, retire them into the flames emanating from the fire pit in front of the Post hall across from Washington Park.
This retirement was special for Sheredy, however, because in addition to being a fifth Tuesday, the June 30 ceremony also happened to fall on the same week as the celebration of America’s semiquincentennial.
“It’s actually kind of a nice honor. We’re going into the 250th anniversary of the United States, and what a better way to start it than doing a flag retirement, so we can put fresh flags up,” he said.
During this summer’s ceremony, Sheredy, Donald York, Tione Willox and others sent 168 flags – both American and Wyoming ones as well as “Don’t Tread On Me” and others – off
to retirement, with York’s grandson Elijah keeping track of how many of each flag was burned.
Sheredy said seeing all those flags sent to the great beyond brings him a special kind of joy.
“I don’t know how to really put that in words, but it’s one of those things. It’s nice to see that we have as many people in our community to understand that when a flag is done, there’s a proper way to dispose of it,” the commander said.
The next ceremony will be held Sept. 29. Those who want to give their flag to the Legion for retirement prior to the ceremony can drop it in the old mailbox painted red, white and blue at the Legion post.
This story was published on July 8, 2026.
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