Knights of Columbus conduct flag retirement ceremony

August 23, 2023 at 11:58 p.m.
Port Chester Middle School eighth-grader Vanessa Jones, a member of Girl Scout Troop 1235, retires an American flag collected from St. Mary’s Cemetery by burning it in a ceremony outside the Knights of Columbus Hall at 327 Westchester Ave. on Thursday, Aug. 17. According to U.S. Flag Code, the proper way to retire a flag is by burning.
Port Chester Middle School eighth-grader Vanessa Jones, a member of Girl Scout Troop 1235, retires an American flag collected from St. Mary’s Cemetery by burning it in a ceremony outside the Knights of Columbus Hall at 327 Westchester Ave. on Thursday, Aug. 17. According to U.S. Flag Code, the proper way to retire a flag is by burning. (Jeffrey Cullen Dean/Westmore News)

By JEFFREY CULLEN DEAN | Comments: 0 | Leave a comment
Staff Reporter

As part of their commitment to patriotism, the Father John M. Grady Council of the Knights of Columbus in Port Chester performed their annual flag retirement ceremony on Thursday, Aug. 17.

Each year, the Knights, along with members of local Scouts BSA troops, collect and replace the American flags that mark the graves of veterans at St. Mary’s Cemetery on High Street in Rye Brook.

    Westchester Avenue resident Pat Barr (right) has some fun with the flames during the annual flag retirement ceremony hosted by the Knights of Columbus.
 By Jeffrey Cullen Dean 
 
 

Scouts, community members and Knights assembled at the Knights of Columbus’ building at 327 Westchester Ave. and ceremonially burned the flags, though they prefer the term retired.

According to U.S. Flag Code, “The flag, when it is in such condition that it is no longer a fitting emblem for display, should be destroyed in a dignified way, preferably by burning.”

“Every year, on Memorial Day, we replace the flags of the veterans, and these are the flags we’ve taken off those graves and other flags that came from people who don’t know what to do with them,” said Charlie Sacco, a member of the Knights of Columbus. “We just want to do the right thing and show some respect. The ashes will be put in a special container and buried at the flagpole in front of our building.”

According to Sacco, the Knights of Columbus perform the annual ceremony because of the organization’s commitment to patriotism.

“The principles of the Knights of Columbus are charity, unity and patriotism,” he said. “We’re giving an example to the young kids and having them participate and see our example.”

The Scouts are involved for the same reason.

    Wesley Avenue resident Scott LaDore (left) and South Regent Street resident Charlie Sacco, both members of the Knights of Columbus, retire U.S. flags.
 By Jeffrey Cullen Dean 
 
 

Members of BSA Troop 400, the all-female Troop 420 and Cub Scout Pack 400 took part in the ceremony by serving as the color guard.

“We do this every year since we’ve been in existence,” said Moe Acevedo, scoutmaster for Troop 400. “The Scout laws are duty to God and country and this is duty to country, which is for the people that gave us this freedom and made the ultimate sacrifice for this freedom.”


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