BIG SPRING, Texas — The Crossroads Young Marines went out to VFW Post 2013 in Big Spring Saturday to perform a flag retirement ceremony.
The flags were given to the Young Marines by members of the community.
All the flags that are too old and worn need to be retired properly.
But you don't just throw away an American flag, instead you give it a proper send off by doing the flag retirement ceremony as laid out in the U.S. Flag code.
"The United States flag is to be respected at all times, displayed in a respectful manner, and retired in a respectful manner," said Roger Rodman, unit commander for the Crossroads Young Marines.
Even before the U.S. flag code came into being, there have been rules in place for how to treat the American flag.
“This was set up in 1789. The United States flag code was established later and that states how you can fly the flag, what sizes to fly, when,” Rodman continued.
Rodman says that helping to perform services like this help teach the young people in the Young Marines program about patriotism and the importance of our nation’s flag as a symbol.
“It is a symbol of our country, so it is to be done with the utmost of respect and that’s what we’re here to do today,” Rodman added.