06/15/2026
AMERICAN LEGION POST 201 CONDUCTS MASSIVE FLAG RETIREMENT CEREMONY – As a service to the West Jefferson community and the Dayton National Cemetery, Post 201 utilized Flag Day to retire approximately 10,000 flags. American Legion Flag Protocol, established in 1937, dictates flags are to be ceremonially retired after a short program which honors the emblem of our nation. The American Flag is a non-partisan banner under which a million have died protecting our freedom. During the Civil War, one-fourth of the recipients of the Medals of Honor were awarded to Union Soldiers for capturing the enemy flag or protecting their own. The Flag Bearer led his unit and was a primary target of the enemy. A proper retirement of Unserviceable Flags prevents them from being discarded as ordinary trash.
Post 201 collects worn or faded flags at two depository boxes, one at the post and the other at the West Jefferson gazebo. For Memorial Day, the post places dozens of flags on West Jefferson cemeteries. The Lincoln authorized Dayton National Cemetery is the largest National Cemetery within 400 miles with its 63,000 graves. Each Memorial Day weekend, every grave is given a flag by hundreds of scouts. When retrieved, they are inspected and unsuitable flags are discarded. Also, the beautiful Avenue of Flags is made up of 247 donated burial flags. Those are also inspected when taken down after Memorial Day and rejected flags ceremonially retired. As a service to Dayton National Cemetery, Post 201 picked up and properly retired those many flags along with community donations. Post 201 is honored to serve our veterans and the National Cemetery in doing so.
Citizens are encouraged to drop their used flags off at the two collection boxes in town.
