Legion Post 13 holds Flag Day ceremony
American Legion members Dave Carrott, left and Joe Griffith were responsible for the fire pit for proper disposal of American and Montana state flags on June 14. (Monte Turner/Mineral Independent)
Molly Parkman moved to St. Regis a year ago and said that she had never seen a ceremony that the American Legion Post 13 was about to perform for proper disposal of worn and tattered American flags.
“I love the flag. I always have one outside my house. And I feel bad when they get ratty looking so, I fold them up and put them in my garage,” she said. “And I know that there is a procedure but I didn’t know that there was an actual ceremony. When I read about this one, I said, ‘Wow! I want to see how this is conducted.’ So here I am.”
Glenn Koepke is another St. Regis resident and he drives almost daily as a Disabled American Veterans driver taking veterans from Mineral County to the VA Health Clinic in Missoula. He stood in the back observing with American Legion Post 13 Adjutant, Scott Burrows, who was responsible for bugle taps.
The ceremony that was conducted was the same step-by-step as every other American Legion ceremony disposing of American flags on June 14. It opened with a welcome and explanation of what was going to take place from Post 13 Commander Vince Triplet. The prayer was read by Dave Hannah who is the Chaplin for Post 13.
Legionnaires then saluted the flag and began handing the ones folded into pillows, the official triangle, to be property disposed of down the line to where each flag, one at a time, was unfurled and handed by the top corners to the two Legionnaires who would gently lay it into the fire for cremation.
The next flag would follow the same procedure after 10-15 seconds to be certain of the one before it was engulfed in flames.
A Navy veteran who served 32 years was also watching and said it was high time for him to join Ray Welch American Legion Post 13 in St. Regis.
“It was excellent,” said MJ who has been a St. Regis resident for 25 years. “It was better than the ones that were held downtown at one time. It feels that it honors more, here. At this place.”
This place was at the Headquarters of Post 13 at 55 Mill Creek Road and by best estimations, 50 flags were laid to rest. MJ said he has four pillowed flags in his garage but could not find them in time yet wanted to observe the ceremony anyway. At the end, all who participated felt it went very well. “By the book,” said Triplett.
“I would have liked to have had more people watching. Last couple of years we had a lot of attendance. This is probably the lowest amount observing I can remember.”
The conversation amongst the members shifted to the Memorial Day parade which they said had the lowest numbers of observers they had seen.
“People need to start loving this country again,” said Hannah.
Parkman had a different observation.
“Look at how many people took the time to fold flags and drop them off for proper disposal, rather than just throwing them in the garbage.”
Heads started nodding and the conversation moved on to what Post 13 was going to be doing for the Fourth of July parade.