VETERANS RETIRE FLAGS WITH SOLEMN DIGNITY

A steady breeze gently nudged the American flag at the Cape Girardeau War Memorial Park as Burt Lehman watched soiled and tattered versions of Old Glory take a "dignified" death.

"That's what it's all about, right there," said Lehman, nodding in the direction of the flag that could be seen beyond the hill of the Missouri Veterans Home. "It's not politics or protest, just the best of this country, of America. It's what all of these people here put their lives on the line for," he said, referring to the veterans who attended Tuesday's flag-burning ceremony that took place just outside of the Veterans Home.

Members of the American Legion Post 63 retired unserviceable American flags by burning them in a make-shift pit just outside the Veterans Home.

"It's the proper way to dispose of unserviceable flags," said Charles Woodford, a member of the American Legion who participated in the ceremony. "It's an annual affair we've been doing for six years."

For the first time in the six-year history of the ritual, the Girl Scouts participated, carrying old flags to the American Legion commander.

Lehman participated in last year's ceremony. "I was proud to be part of it," said Lehman. "I think it's good that we take flags that are worn or dirty and replace them with new ones. It gives you a sense of how important it is that the flag be treated with respect. It's a symbol of our country and should be treated as such."

Added Lehman, "Every time I drive past that war memorial hill where the flag is at I get fired up. It makes me proud to be a part of this country."

Gilbert Gerringer, a veteran of World War II, gets the same feeling from every flag-burning ceremony in Cape.

"I was at the last one and it made me feel good, just like this one," he said. "I think it's a good way to retire a flag that is no longer good enough to use. The American flag should be destroyed in the proper way."

Marvin Maevers was witnessing the ritual for the first time. "I think this is a good thing," said Maevers. "It's the right way to treat something we all look at with pride."

Part of the ritual is for the sergeant-at-arms to recite: "These flags have become faded and worn over the graves of our departed comrades and the soldier and sailor dead of all of our nations's wars."

The second vice-commander says, "Present these flags to the first vice-commander for his inspection."

The sergeant-at-arms salutes, about-faces, commands the detail, "About face," then crosses behind the detail and takes his post at its left. After he says, "forward march," the detail marches to within two paces of the first vice-commander, halts and proceeds as before.

The flags are inspected by the commander, who then orders them burned.