Steve Grimes, an Honor Guard member, said the lack of respect for the flag sometimes stems from ignorance.
“Some don’t know, they throw it in the trash,” he said.
Post 218 Commander Randy Howard said the importance of Flag Day for many Honor Guard and American Legion members is evident in the flag’s colors: to remember those that died serving.
“Red, for the blood we shed,” he said. “White, for purity. Blue, for anybody that’s ever served.”
After a brief talk from Howard, the combined Honor Guard (made up of VFW 3809, Disabled American Veterans 131 and American Legion Post 218 members) placed the hundreds of flags a few at a time in a barrel fire pit.
The American flag was adopoted on June 14, 1777 by a resolution of the Second Continental Congress. Though not a federal holiday, Flag Day has been honored on June 14 since President Truman signed it in an Act of Congress in 1949.
Contact this reporter at (513) 483-5236 or beena.raghavendran@coxinc.com.
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