U.S. flag collection and retirement planned by Leland American Legion Post 68
By Chris Russell
The Leland-area American Legion Post 68 is planning a Flag Collection event on Saturday, March 3 from 9 am - 4 pm at Municipal Park on Town Hall Drive.
Last year, this same group, the fastest growing Post in the state, had a flag collection at Brunswick Forest which garnered almost 200 U.S. flags which need to be retired.
"Bring your old, worn-out tattered flag for proper disposal. We will have collection boxes and hope to collect a couple hundred more," said Commander Jim Zelenski.
"The U.S. flag code states that when the flag “is in such condition that it is no longer a fitting emblem for display, [it] should be destroyed in a dignified way, preferably by burning.”
The American Honor Guard will set out dozens of flags and services flags for the collection celebration.
It is not a surprise with the growth spurt in northern Brunswick County, that the Post should also be growing. They are active participants in many community events, such as Founder's Day and Trunk or Treat.
"When I took over in June 2016, we had approximately 50 members, and today our membership is 122 folks and growing. We’ve doubled in size in the last 18 months," Zelenski said.
The Flag Collection will be a good time to meet veterans and other residents living in the area. Post 68 will have a canopy set up in the park by 9 a.m. and will collect flags until 4 p.m. You do not have to bring a flag for retirement to be a part of the event. Members will be serving hot dogs, drinks, cookies and chips and will seek a $5 donation per meal.
A very special Flag Retirement Ceremony is currently planned for Saturday, April 28 in Municipal Park. American Legion Post 68 has requested and received approval from the Leland Town Council to host its first Retirement Ceremony in which U.S. Flags will be honored and burned at sunset. This will be the first time Post 68 has ever held a Retirement Ceremony, and due to some conflicts, and because they want the ceremony to be "done properly", they may have to reschedule for fall.
"There will be readings, a chaplain there... officers will march the flags to a fire pit or fire can. It's a very moving ceremony," Zelenski said.
The American Legion Post 68 meets the third Thursday each month at Blossoms Restaurant in Magnolia Greens. An early dinner at 4:30 p.m. is available, meet and greet at 5:30 p.m. and then the meeting begins at 6 p.m.
A typical meeting consists of an opening ceremony, the pledge of allegiance, chaplain prayer, recognizing POW-MIA with an empty chair, and a speaker. Meetings last about one hour.
To verify the date for the upcoming Flag Retirement Ceremony, see the Post 68 website, under "special events".
Interesting facts:
* Movie stars Clark Gable and Humphry Bogart and 10 of our last 12 presidents were American Legion members.
* The American Legion is the nation's largest veteran service organization. For the first time in its 99-year history, it elected a woman, Denise Rohan, as its national commander in August 2017.
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March 1, 2018 North Brunswick Magazine Online - Life in Brunswick County
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