Local veterans plan Flag Day retirement ceremony; questions raised about polyester flags

The Catholic War Veterans announced a Flag Day ceremony for June 14 at Veterans Plaza to retire U.S. flags that are no longer serviceable; the ceremony will begin at 9 a.m. and run to about 11 a.m., the group said.

Jesus Garcia, a Catholic War Veterans representative, said the event will include flag retirement for cotton 3-by-5 flags that are torn or otherwise unserviceable and that local Boy Scouts will help with the retirement. “This coming Saturday, June 14 at the Veterans Plaza, we will be holding a ceremony…every flag that is torn up needs to be retired at this ceremony,” Garcia said.

Speakers discussed how to handle non-cotton flags. Committee members said many small grave-marker flags and the flags often distributed at Memorial Day events are polyester or nylon and therefore cannot be burned under traditional flag-protocol practice. One speaker said organizers had previously buried nonburnable flags at a dedicated location at Camp Camposha; another suggested the group would research official protocol to confirm allowed disposal methods.

A representative identified as Jazurilla noted prior practice: “The cotton ones were burned. The ones who could burn were burned. Everything else…they were able to bury the remainder of the flags out there in a dedicated location,” he said.

The organizers asked residents to bring worn flags to the American Legion or the plaza ahead of the ceremony and requested help publicizing the event to increase participation. No formal city or county directive about flag-retirement methods was presented at the meeting.

Discussion only: event logistics and disposal options for polyester/nylon flags. Direction: organizers will follow up on official protocol and coordinate with other veteran groups and the American Legion. Decision: event scheduled for June 14; no ordinance or city policy change was voted on.