All year long, American Legion Post 186 collects worn flags that can no longer fly. On Flag Day, groups like this properly dispose of them.
By CHANDRA BROADWATER
Published June 15, 2006
[Times photo: Keri Wiginton]
From left, color guard members Bob Kozlowski, Lou Hernandez, Steve Small and James Hulce present the colors Wednesday at the flag retirement ceremony at American Legion Post 186 in Spring Hill. Every year on Flag Day, Post 186 takes a few moments to properly dispose of worn flags that can no longer fly.
SPRING HILL - Draped over coffins, American flags help bury dead soldiers.
Each year on June 14, Byrne Coddington puts the Stars and Stripes to rest.
Wednesday morning, the 71-year-old draped three frayed flags across a rusted metal garbage can.
He stood in the parking lot of the American Legion Post 186 in Spring Hill with a small group of others. Next to the flags sat a bottle of lighter fluid and an igniter on the ground.
The occasion was Flag Day. Post 186 held its annual ceremony.
In 1949, President Truman signed a bill calling for its observance on June 14 each year by proclamation. The day commemorates the 1777 adoption of the Red, White and Blue as the U.S. flag.
On this day, groups like the American Legion also take time to properly dispose of worn flags that can no longer fly. All year long, Post 186 accepts them.
County residents drop them off in mailboxes at the front of the building on State Road 50.
The Spring Hill club, one of the largest in the state, collects more than 1,200 flags a year. All of them can't be retired on Flag Day, so Coddington takes the truckloads to his large Weeki Wachee back yard to dispose of himself.
With some help Wednesday, Coddington arranged the three flags before dousing them with lighter fluid. At the click of the igniter, flames poked out of the can, slowly melting the flags away.
Everyone saluted.
Through the 20-minute ceremony, gusts of wind rushing along SR 50 with cars and trucks kept U.S. and military flags on poles in front of the legion hall billowing.
Post Commander Jim Schultz asked the small crowd to remember those who have died protecting their country.
"The flag of the United States of America is a living memorial," he said. "Let us never forget."
