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St. Mary’s County retires 1,050 unserviceable U.S. flags in annual Flag Day ceremony
Summary
At the county’s June 14 Flag Day observance in Leonardtown, officials and veterans’ groups marked the history of the flag, the governor’s proclamation and a ceremonial retirement of 1,050 donated, unserviceable American flags by American Legion Post 221.
Randy Guy, president of the St. Mary’s County Commission, opened the county’s June 14 Flag Day observance in Leonardtown and announced that American Legion Post 221 would conduct the traditional retirement of flags donated by county residents.
“This year, we'll be disposing of 1,050 donated flags,” Guy said, announcing the number of unserviceable flags collected for the ceremony.
The event included readings on the history of the flag, remarks and a proclamation presented on behalf of Maryland Governor Wes Moore, and musical and invocation performances. Major General Janine Brooke, representing the governor, read the governor’s proclamation declaring June 14, 2025, Flag Day in Maryland and commending the observance.
“We're here to celebrate,” Major General Janine Brooke said during her remarks, noting the flag’s history and the role of Marylanders in early American history.
Speakers honored the flag’s symbolism and military service. Captain Douglas Burfield, commanding officer of Naval Air Station Patuxent River, described how the flag is treated by service members: “For those of us in uniform, it greets us each morning on military bases and sends us off at the end of every day.”
Before the retirement ceremony, American Legion leaders inspected the donated flags and recommended formal disposal. The Second Vice Commander of American Legion Post 221 reported, “Since these flags have been unserviceable in a worthy cause, I recommend they be honorably retired from further service.” The First Vice Commander followed, saying the faded flags “be fittingly destroyed.”
Following those recommendations, members of American Legion Post 221 conducted a solemn outdoor retirement and burning of the condemned flags on the baseball field adjacent to the event site. The county announced the public disposal method and invited attendees to observe from a safe distance.
Organizers thanked participating color guards and community groups that supported the ceremony, including the St. Mary’s County Sheriff’s Office, Maryland State Police Leonardtown Barracks, Naval Air Station Patuxent River, Great Mills High School Navy Junior ROTC, Chopticon High School Air Force Junior ROTC, Elks Lodge 2092, the Leonardtown Volunteer Fire Department, Leonardtown Volunteer Rescue Squad, the Disabled American Veterans Auxiliary, and the county Department of Recreation and Parks. Refreshments were provided by the Seventh District Optimist Club.
The program also included historical remarks about the flag’s adoption by the Continental Congress on June 14, 1777, and references to later congressional actions on flag design and observance. The observance closed after a benediction and the retirement ceremony.
Context and distinction: the gathering was ceremonial and commemorative; no legislative or policy actions were proposed or taken by the county commission at the event.
