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From the Wagener Monthly, by Valerie Sliker

Wagener VFW Post 6304 held a flag burning ceremony on February 27, 2016 in the Post’s yard.  Post Commander John O’Cain, Past Post Commander Charles Beam, Jr. Vice Commander Joe Quattlebaum, Chaplain Tony Day and several others participated in the extensive ceremony to properly dispose of nearly twenty retired American Flags.

Worn or damaged flags should be retired in a dignified, respectful manner.  The VFW Post 6304 accepts flags for retirement to be burned annually.  You may deposit worn flags in the red, white and blue mailbox located near the Post’s parking lot.

At the ceremony, each flag is folded properly inside the Post building prior to burning.  As members of the post arrived, they jumped in and began folding or gathered around the fire barrel outside to start the fire.

Charles Beam, retired Airman and past Post Commander, explained the flag burning ceremony: “We have to take the flags to the top of the flagpole, raise them briskly and lower them ceremonially.  The Star Spangled Banner is played as we are raising the flag; Taps is played when the flag is lowered.  When the old flags come down off the flagpole, we fold them properly, walk them to the burn barrel in the folded position, then they become slightly unfolded when thrown into the fire.  We take the ashes from the barrel, put them in Mason jars and bury the jars under this tree in the VFW Post 6304 yard.