American Legion retires flags
ERIN MASSEY, Staff Writer

ESCONDIDO ---- The American Legion J.B. Clark Post 149 hosted a flag retirement ceremony Saturday for a record 400 battered and faded American flags collected from the community.

"The flag serves as a symbol of our freedom," said the post's commander, Larry Lynch. "So we must give respect to the flag that served us. It must be destroyed in a dignified way."

This year, the legion had far more to destroy. Most years, only about 20 to 30 flags are turned into the legion because they are too torn, tattered or old to be flown by federal standards.

"After Sept. 11, everyone became more patriotic," said Nancy Hanson, treasurer of the 225-member American Legion Auxiliary 149, which helped organize the event. "I have never seen this many flags before. We hosted this event to educate the public. They can't be patriotic with old flags. They need to get new ones."

To demonstrate the reverence of handling both old and new flags, the 1,200-member Legion conducted the short, public ceremony in the back yard of its post in Escondido. They also paid tribute to all prisoners of war and those missing in action.

"These flags have become faded and worn over the graves of our fallen comrades," said Art Lubben, Sergeant-at-Arms, as he solemnly presented a battered flag to the Legion's First and Second Vice Commanders and then to Lynch.

Once the three verified that the flag was in no shape to be used, Lubben marched out to a fire pit and wrapped the huge flag around a wood pole. As the flames leapt to accept the offering, the crowd stood and saluted.

"We honor our country by displaying our flags," said Mayor Lori Pfeiler, who spoke during the ceremony. "We must pay our respects by property disposing of them. The American Legion plays a pivotal role in that process."

While the legion had plenty of flags to burn, they did not have record attendance. About 40 people attended the ceremony but the majority were legion members. Lynch has been working with 16 local schools to collect the flags and had hoped to entice more parents and their children to attend the ceremony.

"I would have liked to see more kids from the schools here," Lynch said. "I am a little disappointed in the participation, but that is something we will have to work on. We will keep sending out the message that we want them to come and bring their flags."

Maria Garcia-Eggly, a local teacher and army veteran, joined the legion Saturday and helped destroy the flags. She said she didn't think that people knew about the event and she hoped to reach both school children and the Latino population to participate in future events.

"I am talking with the legion about getting fliers out to the school district," she said. "I will translate them into Spanish so we can connect with the Hispanic population. Just because there is a language barrier doesn't mean they don't want to be here. We are all Americans."

During the ceremony, two singers from the local children's theater group, Arts Off Broadway, sang patriotic songs. Lisa King, 13, sang "The Star-spangled Banner" during the flag retirement and Arriana Asfar, 10, sang "God Bless America" during the yearly tribute to soldiers who were prisoners of war or missing in action.

In remembrance of missing soldiers, legion members covered a small table with a white table cloth, red rose in a vase, and a place setting for one.

"The table is small to show the frailty of one member," said Post Chaplain Louis Miller. "The single rose signifies the blood shed. The glass is inverted because it cannot be toasted at this time."

The group had a moment of silence to remember those who were lost.

"This table reminds us that many will never return to us," Miller added. "They paid the extreme sacrifice for our freedom."

Contact staff writer Erin Massey at (760) 740-5416 or emassey@nctimes.com.