Marlborough’s American Legion Vieby-Sutton Post 124 recently celebrated its 100th anniversary with a picnic at Cluett Schantz Memorial Park. The celebration concluded with a flag retirement ceremony, where tattered U.S. flags were given a proper retirement. It’s a ceremony that will be repeated in many places this week, as we observe Flag Day on June 14.

The design for Old Glory, as it has come to be known, was officially adopted by the Continental Congress on June 14, 1777. That design has changed over the years, most recently in 1959 when Alaska and Hawaii became our 49th and 50th states, adding two more stars to the field of blue. That enduring symbol inspired Francis Scott Key to pen the words to the poem that would become our national anthem, after witnessing the Star Spangled Banner survive the shelling of Fort McHenry in 1812.

Images of the flag being raised on Iwo Jima symbolize the sacrifices made to instill our freedom while the sight of it on the surface of the moon 50 years ago conveys the sense of American achievement and ingenuity.

Flag Day is marked with ceremonies throughout the country. Many of these ceremonies will include a demonstration of the proper way to fold a flag. The source and the date of origin of this Flag Folding Procedure is unknown, however some sources attribute it to the Gold Star Mothers of America while others to an Air Force chaplain stationed at the U.S. Air Force Academy.

The portion of the flag denoting honor is the canton of blue containing the stars representing states our veterans served in uniform. The canton field of blue dresses from left to right and is inverted only when draped as a pall on the casket of a veteran who has served our country honorably in uniform.

In the U.S. Armed Forces, at the ceremony of retreat, the flag is lowered, folded in a triangle fold and kept under watch throughout the night as a tribute to our nation’s honored dead.

Locally, The American Legion Post 739 and VFW Post 6534 Highland organize and present monthly Flag Changing Ceremonies on the Walkway Over the Hudson to honor our region’s veterans and their service to our country. These events, organized and presented by these local veterans’ organizations, are open to all who wish to attend. Contact: Ross Hartlipp with American Legion Post 739 for information and updates. Location: Center Overlook of the Walkway Over the Hudson Event Organizer: American Legion Post 739 and VFW Post 6534.

Upcoming dates are: July 21, August 18, September 15 and October 27.