LIHUE — When the Amerian flag reaches the end of its useful life, many people do not know what to do.
The American Legion, Post 54 of Kapaa made retiring an American flag easier and more convenient with the dedication of a Flag Drop Box at the Kauai Veterans Center on Kapule Highway in Lihue.
The American flag, is a precious symbol of our ideals of justice, freedom and democracy, said Jim Jung, Chaplin of American Legion, Post 54.
Jung spearheaded the project to create the flag drop box to ensure the proper retirement for American flags.
“When faded, worn, tattered, or torn, our flags must be retired from further service with respect and dignity,” Jung said. “The proper retirement of such flags is one of the missions of the American Legion, a volunteer civilian organiztion of veterans who have served our country in all branches of the military.”
By using the flag drop box, old American flags can be deposited in the box where the American Legion will store them for proper retirement on Flag Day.
Each June, on Flag Day, the American Legion, Post 54, Kapaa, gets help from the Boy Scouts of America in conducting a solemn ceremony during which time, the worn out flags are honorably created in accordance with federal law.
The Flag Drop Box at the front of the Kauai Veterans Center, and Jung encourages citizens to demonstrate patriotism by partnering with the American Legion in the proper retirement of worn out flags.
• Dennis Fujimoto, staff writer and photographer, can be reached at 245-0453 or dfujimoto@thegardenisland.com.
