Plastic bags full of damaged and distressed American flags were burned in a dignified manner during a flag-retirement ceremony on Saturday afternoon at the American Legion Charles P. McMenamy Post, 8041 Frankford Ave.
McMenamy and William D. Oxley Post 133, 4637 Decatur St. (at Torresdale Avenue), teamed up for the annual ceremony.
The ceremony, held in McMenamy’s back yard, featured an American Legion honor guard, a rifle salute and Ed Hays, of the Philadelphia Police Pipes and Drums, playing God Bless America on bagpipes. Food and refreshments followed.
Among those in attendance were City Councilman Mike Driscoll and Pat Gallagher, candidate in the 173rd Legislative District.
Oxley chaplain Bob Cummings said McMenamy and Oxley accept torn, frayed, faded or soiled American, state or Prisoner of War flags throughout the year. The public is invited to drop flags off inside McMenamy or in the Oxley drop box. ••
