From staff reports
Boy Scouts of America Troop 51 of Clarion conducts an honorable flag retirement ceremony each year. This ceremony is a respectable way to retire worn out American flags that are no longer a fitting emblem of display.
Burning is the preferred method of retiring the American flag and after the ceremony the ashes need to be disposed of in a dignified manner.
Troop 51 Scoutmaster Woody Whitling had an idea to create a memorial site for the ashes of the retired American flags.
Whitling contacted the Clarion Cemetery Association to inquire if there was space for a memorial within the Clarion cemetery. The Clarion Cemetery Association was more than eager to help by providing a designated area near the veteran’s memorial within the cemetery.
After securing a memorial location Whitling worked with Borland Memorials in Leeper, Clarion American Legion Post 66 and Clarion VFW 2145, who all generously provided support for the project.
Through these combined efforts, the memorial has been constructed and will be dedicated at 2 p.m. on Flag Day, Friday, June 14, at the Clarion cemetery. Everyone is welcome to attend.
The remainder of the worn out flags will be respectfully retired by Troop 51 at 10 a.m. on Saturday, June 15, at the Clarion Moose Lodge.
If you have an American flag that needs retired, bring it to the memorial dedication ceremony on Friday.
Worn out flags are also being collected at the Clarion American Legion, Clarion VFW, Clarion Moose or Fisher and Father Auto Parts in Clarion.