American Legion Post Commander Lee Starcher, a U.S. Army veteran, talked Friday during a ceremony where the Post disposed of several flags that were worn and in bad shape in a ceremony with a lot of reverence for what the flag means to them. (Photo by Brett Dunlap)

PARKERSBURG — A local veterans group commemorated Flag Day with a final act of respect for a number of old, used and worn out American flags.

American Legion Post 15 in Parkersburg held a flag disposal ceremony Friday morning at its building on Ohio Avenue.

Flag Day is the traditional time when veterans groups across the country hold ceremonies to properly dispose of American flags that can no longer be adequately displayed in a proper fashion. The flags have become faded, ripped, weathered and more.

American Legion Post Commander Lee Starcher, a U.S. Army veteran, said the ceremony is done in a “respectable way” with a lot of reverence to what they do in honoring the American flag and what it means.

“We do it through burning,” he said. “That is the preferred method to dispose of the flags.”

Members from American Legion Post 15 in Parkersburg participated in a ceremony on Flag Day where several used and worn flags were disposed of in a ceremony where burning was the preferred method of disposal which was done with reverence and respect. Pictured are Neil Dowler, Phil Kaiden and Roger Taber. (Photo by Brett Dunlap)

Other ways include cutting the blue and stars out and separating that from the stripes so it is no longer considered a flag.

Some people have separated out the parts of the flag and disposed of the pieces as long as it can no longer be considered a flag; some people have buried worn and damaged flags in a wooden box. A few people use them in displays.

The Legion ceremony on Friday shows the proper respect for the flags, Starcher said.

The ceremony has the commander and vice commanders signify the flags are worn and now need disposed of after their use as meaningful symbols of this country and are no longer serviceable. One of the vice commanders signifies the flags “became unserviceable in a worthy cause and recommend they be honorably retired from further service.”

The vice commanders signify the true value each flag honors those who died for this country so its citizens can live in freedom and “devoted to the ideals of justice, freedom and democracy.”

American Legion Post 15 members Neil Dowler and Phil Kaiden carry a worn out flag to be properly disposed of while Roger Taber looks on during a ceremony held at the Legion building on Ohio Avenue on Friday, Flag Day. The Legion disposed of several flags which had become faded, ripped, weathered and more. (Photo by Brett Dunlap)

A detail of a couple Legion members will come up and dip the flag in kerosene and put it on the burner with the ashes falling down in the metal drum. After the flags have been disposed of a benediction is given and “Taps” is played.

“We do it in a dignified manner,” Starcher said. “It is a solemn ceremony.”

Friday’s ceremony disposed of several flags, but Starcher said the Legion has many more that have been given to them and the Legion will have to set up a time when its members can get together to properly take those apart so they can be disposed of.

“This is the day we pay respect for the flags that have flown and make sure they are disposed properly,” Starcher said.

His time in the Army was a good experience for him as is his time with the American Legion. Post 15 is the largest American Legion Post in the state with 740 members, he said.

“Being in the Legion, everyone here is pretty patriotic,” Starcher said. “We do respect our flag.

“It is important for people to remember the significance of the flag. Burning the flag in protest is completely wrong.”

Brett Dunlap can be reached at bdunlap@newsandsentinel.com