Mary Quisenberry Chapter National Society Daughters of the American Revolution will be conducting a flag retirement ceremony June 9 in Durant at 10 a.m. at the Pavilion on Market Square. Chapter members will be assisted by Sequoyah Chapter Children of the American Revolution, 4-H and Scout members. Attendees should bring lawn chairs.

Flags that have become worn and tattered or torn should no longer be flown in public. The best ways to dispose of a flag are to donate it to a group that holds flag retirement ceremonies or who collect flags for those groups. The flag can be taken to your local fire department, the American Legion, Disabled American Veterans, Veterans of Foreign Wars, Scouting groups of members of the Daughters of the American Revolution. Call first to be sure they accept flags.

Most flag retirement ceremonies dispose of worn American flags by burning them. This is done in a respectful and dignified manner, unlike burning the flag in protest. The flag is first folded into a triangular shape and placed on a fire that is large enough to burn the entire flag leaving only ashes. The flag may be gently stirred to be sure only ashes remain. Those ashes should then be buried.

The flag retirement may be done in silence or as part of a ceremony. One suggestion is to say the Pledge of Allegiance or have a brief program under the direction of a ceremony leader. “God Bless America” is often sung before the leader closes with a few words and a blessing.

Mary Quisenberry Chapter NSDAR has an agreement with the Durant Fire Department that the downtown fire department on North First Street will be the main drop off for worn and unusable flags. This service is available throughout the year.