Under midday sunny skies, a U.S. flag that had once flown over the capital city was retired Sunday afternoon during a ceremony hosted by the city’s Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) and the Carson City Fire Department.
Held at the Regional Fire Academy on College Parkway, guests dignitaries, veterans and local citizens witnessed the public ceremonial burning of a U.S. flag following a Flag Day tribute ceremony.
With opening remarks by Carson City Manager Glen Martel, invocation by Pastor Brady Roser of The Bridge Church, Carson City Mayor Bagwell served as keynote speaker. Color Guard was by American Legion Post 56.
A patriotic medley was performed by the local singing group Bumps on The Road, which they humorously acknowledged their name and the irony of a problematic PA system during the presentation. Meanwhile, CERT volunteers sought to make guests comfortable in the hot sun by providing shaded seating and air mist fans.
Mayor Bagwell spoke of how CCFD and the CERT program established a permanent flag retirement site at CCFD’s headquarters. The site, open to the community 24 hours a day, has allowed residents to properly retire flags with dignity and care. Since its creation, more than 1,000 flags have been entrusted to CCFD and CERT, each representing a story, home, family and a memory.
“The flag of the United States is more than a piece of fabric. It is a symbol of the values we strive for — liberty, unity, courage, resilience and the enduring hope that binds us as one nation,” said Mayor Bagwell. “Today’s ceremony is about honor — honoring our country, honoring the men and women who have served to protect it, and honoring the flag itself. According to the United State Flag Code, when a flag becomes worn or tattered, it should be retired in a dignified manner. This is not an act of disposal but an act of respect. It is a way for us to recognize that the flag has served its purpose faithfully and deserves to be laid to rest with the honor it is due.”
As the ceremony’s special guest, Peter Stent, Vice Chairman of the National Medal of Honor Museum Foundation, spoke of American citizens who have continually put service before self and have never wavered their commitments.
“Today that same commitment to service stands for the same principles but some things have changed. Our first responders protecting our community, citizens and property serve under very challenging conditions,” said Stent. “Their core values of courage, commitment, patriotism, integrity, sacrifice and citizenship guide all these individuals in an increasingly complicated country. Despite these complications and ever changing policies, the brave men and women who serve are the cornerstone of this amazing nation.”
Paying respect to service members, law enforcement, firefighters, EMTs, doctors and CERT volunteers, Stent stated that whether it is on a global or local stage, professional or volunteer, “this is all about service. It’s all about sacrifice, duty and honor. And it’s all about that flag.
“A flag that has waved over this nation for 250 years, standing for service before self and the values that have defined us since day one. Ensuring the next generation understands what those values truly mean — that’s our responsibility,” said Stent.
Following his remarks, the flag was officially retired with Taps performed by Master Sgt. Torrey Eldridge of the Nevada Air National Guard followed by an end of ceremony song “Proud to be An American” sung by Rick Hays, who also had earlier sung the National Anthem.
The United States Flag Code establishes advisory rules for display and care of the flag of the United States. Included in these rules is guidance regarding the proper disposal of U.S. flags which are unfit for display. The preferred method for disposal (known as retirement) is burning.
Flag Day is observed on June 14 to honor and commemorate the adoption of the American flag, which occurred on that date in 1777 by the Second Continental Congress.
