The annual Broad Ripple Flag Retirement Ceremony will be held on Saturday, June 14, 2008, at the Robert Kennington American Legion Post #34 located at 6440 Westfield Boulevard. This year's event will be expanded to welcome the entire community.

"The 14th is the birthday of our national flag," said Commander Ericksen. "In 1966, Congress set the entire week aside for people to fly the flag and display it proudly. It would be great to see more people in Broad Ripple flying their flags this year."

A patriotic music program is scheduled to begin at 10 A.M. followed by the flag ceremony at 11. If you have attended this ceremony in recent years you certainly noticed that it has become quite difficult to perform the "dignified disposal" of unserviceable flags. Years ago flags were made of cotton, but today most are nylon. While cotton burns, nylon melts and produces clouds of black smoke. This year Flanner and Buchanan will help with the disposal.

"Flanner and Buchanan will supply a big box everyone can put their flags in, and, if they want, they can sign the lid in memory of a loved one that died in service," explained Ericksen.

Starting on June 9th, Broad Ripple residents can bring unserviceable flags to the Post to be placed in the box, or they can bring them to the ceremony on the 14th. The box of flags will be taken to Flanner and Buchanan for proper disposal. The ceremonial flag burning at the Post will include only cotton flags.

Another feature of this year's ceremony is guest speaker Brigadier General Stewart J. Goodwin. He is the assistant adjutant general for air and serves as the deputy joint forces commander-air for the Indiana National Guard Joint Forces Headquarters in Indianapolis. The Indiana Air National Guard consists of the 122nd Fighter Wing in Ft. Wayne, the 181st Fighter Wing in Terre Haute, Atterbury Air to Ground Gunnery Range in Edinburgh, Jefferson Air to Ground Gunnery Range in Madison, and 207th Weather Flight in Indianapolis.

A dove release is planned to close the ceremony. Attendees will then move into the Post for a picnic lunch compliments of Flanner and Buchanan and KeyBank.