VFW offers to memorialize, decommission flags

ARLINGTON — The Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 1561 and the Stillaguamish Valley Pioneers have announced the second annual Flag Decommissioning Ceremony on Flag Day, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., June 14 at Pioneer Hall, 20722 67th Ave. NE in Arlington.

The community is invited to bring old and tattered American flags for a proper disposal from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Flags can be dropped at the museum when it is open, from 1 - 4 p.m. Saturday, Sunday and Wednesday or brought on the day of the ceremony.

The Arlington High School JROTC and the Everett Navy Sea Cadet Corps will assist in the ceremonies, said Lori Stack, guard at arms for the VFW 1561 auxiliary.

“People can get their flags memorialized and they can get tattered flags decommissioned,” Stack said, adding that new flags are available for replacement.

Stack said she has had a flag memorialized by the veterans.

“My dad was a fighter pilot in the U.S. Air Force and he was killed in active duty in 1963,” she said, adding her mom had given her the flag and she had it for years.

“I wanted to have it properly memorialized so I took it to the VFW, then I purchased a display case for it,” she said.

While new flags are free, donations will be accepted.

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