SERVING TILTON, NORTHFIELD, BELMONT & SANBORNTON, N.H. FREE THURSDAY, JUNE 23, 2016 Legion members gather for flag burning ceremony DONNA RHODES As New Hampshire American Legion’s District Commander, Bill Firth, began the ceremonial burning of older American flags no longer suitable for service, members of the Legion’s Charles Kilborn Post 58 joined him. From left to right are Evelyn Firth, Assistant Director of District 7’s Auxiliary Unit, Post 58 Assistant Commander David Schroth, Vice Commander of District 7 Steve Bracy, Post 58 Adjutant Woody Fogg, Post 58 Commander Richard Stanley, resident Richard Fogg, and Commander Emeritus Robert Stevens. BY DONNA RHODES [email protected] BELMONT — In rec- ognition of Flag Day, which fell this year on Tuesday, June 14, members of American Legion’s Charles Kil- born Post 58 in Belmont gathered at the newly in- stalled Belmont Covered Bridge to hold tradition- al flag burning ceremonies for flags they have collected over the past year. “These flags have become faded and worn through use, and I rec- ommend they be fitting- ly retired,” Commander Emeritus Bob Stevens reported to Post 58’s cur- rent commander Rich- ard Stanley. Vice Commander Da- vid Schroth confirmed that the flags had all served two years or more in honor of the nation and seconded the recommendation that they be retired. The chaplain’s prayer was then delivered be- fore the gathering moved to the fire pit area where New Hampshire’s Dis- trict Commander and American Legion Post 58 member Bill Firth began the ceremonial burning of the flags. As each of the flags gathered at the Belmont Fire Station and through Post 58 members were presented to Firth, they were first looked over to see if parts of them could serve in other ways. “We’ll cut the blue field with embroidered stars off some of these flags and donate them to the Pease Greeters,” said Post 58 Adjutant Woody Fogg. As the Pease Greeters welcome each service member who travels through Pease Interna- tional Airport on their way to or from overseas deployment, they pres- ent them with embroidered stars from various flags as a thank you for their service. Flags from Post 58’s ceremony will now benefit their patri- otic cause. Flag burning ceremonies are a tradition with most veteran posts, like the American Le- gion’s Post 58, who seek to retire the “Red, White and Blue” in a dignified manner. Each ceremony is done in respect for not only all the flag that sym- bolizes for the nation, but all that they, as vet- erans, fought for many years to preserve. Belmont Fire Depart- ment is among the many departments who collect flags that have become weatherworn while on display at homes, busi- nesses and government offices, along with those that have been placed at local cemeteries for me- morial events. Each is then held for the annual flag burning ceremonies in their respective town. “It’s a veteran’s tradition to give respect in retiring an old flag and that’s what we’re here for today,” said Post 58 Commander Richard Stanley. Residents who cur- rently own older flags that are no longer ser- viceable are asked to drop them off at the Bel- mont Fire Department or with a member of American Legion Post 58 in Belmont for proper disposal next spring.

Legion members gather for flag burning ceremonyFlag burning cere-monies are a tradition with most veteran posts, like the American Le-gion’s Post 58, who seek to retire the “Red,

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SERVING TILTON, NORTHFIELD, BELMONT & SANBORNTON, N.H. FREETHURSDAY, JUNE 23, 2016

Legion members gather for flag burning ceremony

Donna RhoDes

As New Hampshire American Legion’s District Commander, Bill Firth, began the ceremonial burning of older American flags no longer suitable for service, members of the Legion’s Charles Kilborn Post 58 joined him. From left to right are Evelyn Firth, Assistant Director of District 7’s Auxiliary Unit, Post 58 Assistant Commander David Schroth, Vice Commander of District 7 Steve Bracy, Post 58 Adjutant Woody Fogg, Post 58 Commander Richard Stanley, resident Richard Fogg, and Commander Emeritus Robert Stevens.

BY DONNA RHODES

[email protected]

BELMONT — In rec-ognition of Flag Day, which fell this yearon Tuesday, June 14, members of American

Legion’s Charles Kil-born Post 58 in Belmont gathered at the newly in-stalled Belmont Covered Bridge to hold tradition-al flag burning ceremo-nies for flags they have

collected over the past year.

“These flags have be-come faded and worn through use, and I rec-ommend they be fitting-

ly retired,” Commander Emeritus Bob Stevens reported to Post 58’s cur-rent commander Rich-ard Stanley.

Vice Commander Da-vid Schroth confirmed that the flags had all served two years or more in honor of the na-tion and seconded the recommendation that they be retired.

The chaplain’s prayer was then delivered be-fore the gathering moved to the fire pit area where

New Hampshire’s Dis-trict Commander and American Legion Post 58 member Bill Firth began the ceremonial burning of the flags.

As each of the flags gathered at the Belmont Fire Station and through Post 58 members were presented to Firth, they were first looked over to see if parts of them could serve in other ways.

“We’ll cut the blue field with embroidered stars off some of these flags and donate them to the Pease Greeters,” said Post 58 Adjutant Woody Fogg.

As the Pease Greeters welcome each service member who travels through Pease Interna-tional Airport on their way to or from overseas deployment, they pres-ent them with embroi-dered stars from various flags as a thank you for their service. Flags from Post 58’s ceremony will now benefit their patri-otic cause.

Flag burning cere-monies are a tradition with most veteran posts, like the American Le-gion’s Post 58, who seek to retire the “Red, White and Blue” in a dignified manner. Each ceremony is done in respect for not only all the flag that sym-bolizes for the nation, but all that they, as vet-erans, fought for many years to preserve.

Belmont Fire Depart-ment is among the many departments who collect flags that have become weatherworn while on display at homes, busi-nesses and government offices, along with those that have been placed at local cemeteries for me-morial events. Each is then held for the annual flag burning ceremonies in their respective town.

“It’s a veteran’s tra-dition to give respect in retiring an old flag and that’s what we’re here for today,” said Post 58 Commander Richard Stanley.

Residents who cur-rently own older flags that are no longer ser-viceable are asked to drop them off at the Bel-mont Fire Department or with a member of American Legion Post 58 in Belmont for proper disposal next spring.