Respect-

Monday night Yvette, Zoe and I had the opportunity to attend a flag retirement ceremony in Spanish Fork. This is something that they do each year with their 24th celebration. A local grocery store donates their old 30' by 50' flag to be properly disposed of. Congress has authorized flags worn beyond repair to be destroyed by fire in a dignified manner, showing respect and reverence. I am very emotional when it comes to the flag and the symbol that it is to our country, however, nothing could have prepared me for the amazing ceremony and feelings that it brought to my mind. The local National Guard was there to perform the ceremony and the city and local scouts had been collecting used flags for several weeks. When we got there we were amazed to see 4 large table stacked high with hundreds of flags. There were some that were not folded correctly so the soldiers carefully took them and folded them to be displayed properly passed to the fire with respect and honor. As the ceremony began an Apache Helicopter did a fly by as well. To end the ceremony we were moved (literally) by the sound of 3 Cannons firing a 21 gun salute-AWESOME and loud-Zoe did not like that at all. Words can not describe the emotions, nor can these pictures recreate the moment.

The Guard folding one of the many flags. One of the tables stacked high. Again another table stacked high. Old Glory being lowered to a tap. The soldiers marching the flag to the fire. The local scouts came to the field and one by one took the flags on the table to the Guardsmen to lay in the fire. The Scouts handing the flags over. KABOOM!!