Nutley Is Making Sure American Flags Are Properly Retired
• Proper Protocol Emphasized by Local Veterans
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Enlarge This Photo | Photo by NJHometown |
Carefully folded but badly tattered American Flag is presented to Army Sergeant Jacoby by Jack Kean, N.J. State vice president of the Veterans of Foreign Wars, and Nutley Public Affairs Commissioner Steve Rogers. Flag is one of more than 200 in Nutley that will be ceremoniously destroyed in proper protocol by the military.
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Enlarge This Photo | Photo by NJHometown. |
Nutley High School senior Richard Martinez (right) sounds Taps during today's ceremonies, the first in a planned on-going series designed to properly and ceremoniously dispose of badly tattered American flags. Facing the camera (center) are Jack Kane, state vice president of the Veterans of Foreign Wars, and Nutley Public Affairs Commissioner Steve Rogers.,
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Enlarge This Photo | Photo by NJHometown |
Among those participating in today's ceremonies honoring the American Flag were members of the headquarters company of the Nutley Fire Department.
Jul 28, 2012 – Richard Martinez sounded a perfect rendition of taps shortly afternoon today as a small group of Nutley townspeople joined local veterans, firemen and students at a solemn War Memorial ceremony that strictly adhered to military tradition as the first of several tattered American Flags was prepared for final retirement.
"Today begins a tradition that we hope to carry forward, including our citizens, our veterans, and our students from high school as well as our elementary pupils," Nutley Public Affairs Commissioner Steven Rogers said.
"Today we are retiring one flag, but that single flag serves to represent the more than 200 flags that will be transported to the Biondi Funeral Home where they will be prepared and then transported to a military crematory for final disposal," Rogers explained.
Jack Kane, commander of Nutley's VFW post who is in line head all veterans' affairs in Essex County, said today's ceremony was a welcomed first step to assure that tattered American Flags are retired in a "dignified way manner" in keeping with military tradition.
Richard Martinez, who will begin his senior year in September at Nutley High School silenced the nearby noise of traffic as his bugle call echoed through the area surrounding the War Memorial between the library and Town Hall.
Rogers said he was pleased with today's memorial. "We need to convey the message, especially to the younger generation, to ensure that they understand what this great flag, the Stars and Stripes, really means."
