Fifth-graders share in flag retirement ceremony

By DVE-News/TV Reporters
PORT JERVIS — When American flags are ripped and tattered and have served our nation well, there is a special ceremony for these flags to be retired in a proper way. It is called an Official Flag Retirement Ceremony.

We are a group of DVE-News/TV reporters from Milford who had the honor to go to a ceremony on Oct. 5 for this special purpose and to witness an official flag-burning event. We also had the honor to interview veterans of the military branches who are part of VFW Post #161, American Legion Post #685, Sons of the American Legion, and their auxiliaries. Our families brought us to this ceremony and attended with us and our coaches at the veteran post on Owen St., Port Jervis.

We asked the veterans such things as why it is important for Americans to always Pledge to our flag every morning, why our nation’s flag is special to them, what they each did in the military, whether veterans are buried with America’s flag, how to properly put up and display a flag, and if it is displayed wrong what someone should do.

These veterans are really special for our country because they are very heroic, they protect our nation, and they gained and defend our freedoms. They treated us like we were part of their team, and they said they were glad that kids came to this and were part of the retirement of the American flag. Since one of our reporters asked how to fold a flag, they were kind enough to unfold one of the large worn flags and gently fold it in front of us one more time.

When they put the flags in the fire pit, there was a lot of smoke and a breeze carried the smoke clouds everywhere. Little fire embers dropped around the fire pit. The flags were carefully brought to the fire by the veterans and put in properly. Bright orange flames and America’s beautiful flag together made such an amazing sight as dozens of worn flags were retired forever. When we looked into the fire pit, we were glad that each of these flags was treated with such respect and care.

It was an amazing experience to see our country’s flag so properly handled and officially retired. It was a beautiful sight to see these worn flags go to Flag Heaven with all of the veterans who have also served our country so well.

We learned so much from these local veterans. We will remember this for our whole lives because it was such an honor to be there.

Story and photos are by DVE-News/TV Reporters Kameron Allen, Lia Anthony, Emily Dempsey, Sara Flick, Landon Machado, JoAnne Mullin, Eddie Nieves, Jenna Ostrom, and Paige Willis. DVE-News/TV is a live, daily television show and monthly newspaper club that has been in production for 24 consecutive years. The show airs each morning, broadcasting live from Delaware Valley Elementary School’s television studio with news, features, sports, and weather – and studio and on-location interviews with special guests. The newspaper club produces a monthly newspaper that is posted online every month.