Flag Retirement Ceremony

The retirement of American flags requires great care and respect. A Masonic Lodge, Polar Star - Rose Hill Lodge No. 79, will be conducting an open flag retirement ceremony at Rose Hill Temple (11122 Olive Blvd, St. Louis, MO 63141) on October 6 at 5pm.

On hand will be members of Polar Star - Rose Hill Lodge No. 79, representatives from the Boy Scouts, Daughters of Union Veterans of the Civil War and the Heroes of '76 to assist in lowering the Lodge flag and escorting it to the firepit for proper retirement. The Heroes of '76 is an auxiliary organization of National Sojourners, which is a national fraternal organization meeting the needs of military (Commissioned, Warrant and Senior Non-Commissioned Officers) in advancing programs that promote the love of country

Anyone may attend the ceremony and bring a flag to retire. Randy C. Davis, current Worshipful Master of Polar Star - Rose Hill Lodge No. 79, hopes that any local resident that has an aging flag will bring their flag to be retired respectfully. Davis says, "I hate to see somebody thinking that just throwing a flag in the trash is proper way to dispose of our national emblem. It is unfortunate that most people do not know the proper way to dispose of a flag, unless they have seen it done before."

The flags will be retired in accordance with the United States Flag Code. Title 4, Chapter 1 of the U.S. Flag Code sets forth the rules regarding the American flag, including the proper display, handling and disposal of a flag.

"The flag, when it is in such condition that it is no longer a fitting emblem for display, should be destroyed in a dignified way, preferably by burning," the code states.

After the retirement ceremony, the ashes will be gathered and spread across the graves at Jefferson Barracks at a later date. This is the first time that a flag retirement ceremony has been held at this Masonic Lodge.

Anyone who wants to have a flag included in a ceremony can contact Randy Davis at 314-920-6306 or via email at randy.davis@gmail.com.