A Salute to the Fredericksburg Squadron Cadets!
SPOTSYLVANIA, Va. — Members of the local community gathered June 13 as Spotsylvania American Legion Post 320, alongside local youth groups and first responders, properly retired more than 3,000 unserviceable American flags.
The ceremony was conducted in partnership with cadet and senior members of the Fredericksburg Composite Squadron of the Civil Air Patrol and Boy Scout Troop 1777. Spotsylvania Fire Company 1 was also on scene to ensure the safety of the participants and the community during the event.
According to organizers, the joint effort was designed to ensure that each flag was honored with respect.
"Thank you to everyone who worked so hard to ensure our nation's flags were honored with the utmost respect and dignity," American Legion Post 320 stated in a social media post.
The U.S. Flag Code dictates that when an American flag becomes worn, torn or faded, it is no longer a fitting emblem for display and should be destroyed in a dignified manner, preferably by burning.
The retirement ceremony serves as a solemn reminder of the legacy and sacrifice the flag represents, echoing the words of poet Oliver Wendell Holmes: "One flag, one land, one heart, one hand, one Nation, evermore!"
About Virginia Wing
Civil Air Patrol's Virginia Wing is home to 21 squadrons spread throughout the Commonwealth and has approximately 2,250 members, 12 light aircraft, 6 small unmanned aerial systems (sUAS), and 28 multi-mission vehicles. These assets are available to federal, state, and local governments, as well as to emergency responders and law enforcement agencies to perform search and rescue, homeland security, disaster relief, humanitarian assistance, and counter-drug missions. For more information on Virginia Wing, visit the wing’s website at https://vawg.cap.gov.
About Civil Air Patrol
Founded in 1941 and established as the official civilian auxiliary of the U.S. Air Force seven years later, Civil Air Patrol is chartered by Congress as a nonprofit organization for the purposes of youth development, aerospace education, and to promote general aviation. In an auxiliary role as a Total Force partner of the Air Force, CAP operates the world’s largest fleet of single-engine aircraft for search and rescue, disaster relief, training, and education. Civil Air Patrol is dedicated to serving America’s communities, saving lives, and shaping futures.
Visit vawg.cap.gov or GoCivilAirPatrol.com for more information. Follow us on, Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube.
(Photos by TSgt. McKenzine Goldberg)
For More Information:
2d Lt Sabrina Etienne at PA@vawg.cap.gov
