U.S. Coast Guard Flotilla 33 and the Town of Kilmarnock conducted their seventh annual Flag Retirement Ceremony on Flag Day, June 14. Some 337 flags were respectfully retired after a brief ceremony.
“This is a great service that the Coast Guard Auxiliary provides for the Town of Kilmarnock,” said mayor Mae Umphlett. “Many people have commented that they did not know what to do with unserviceable flags that they don’t want to throw in the trash.”
“Our members conduct a ceremony based upon the approved American Legion procedure and conduct it on Flag Day, the preferred day to retire the flags,” said flotilla vice commander Mary-Jane Starbuck Hinkins.
The Kilmarnock Volunteer Fire Department oversaw the burning of the flags and the American Legion Post 86 provided the space to conduct the retirement.