(CLAIR | Simi Valley, CA) – Each year, Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 10049 hosts a National Flag Day event that brings together several organizations, including Marine Corps League Detachment 597, American Legion Post 484, Disabled American Veterans Chapter 55, and Civil Air Patrol Squadron 1986. This event highlights Simi Valley’s commitment to honoring the American flag and those who have served our country.
Flag Day, commemorated every year on June 14, marks the adoption of the American flag by the Second Continental Congress in 1777. This day is a reminder of the flag’s significance and the values it represents.
In the days leading up to Flag Day, the residents of Simi are encouraged to drop off their old, worn, or damaged American flags at the Chamber of Commerce. These flags are collected with respect and dignity by members of the Simi Valley Elks Lodge.
Following Flag Day, the Elks are charged with properly disposing of the collected flags. According to the United States Flag Code, flags that are no longer fit for display should be destroyed in a dignified way, preferably by burning. Due to environmental concerns with burning nylon flags, which produce toxic fumes, most flags are now taken to a local crematorium for safe disposal.
This disposal process adheres to the guidelines set by the United States Flag Code to honor the American flag. The Flag Code provides specific instructions on how to handle a flag that is no longer suitable for display, ensuring it is disposed of in a respectful and honorable manner.
The ceremony conducted by the Elks and others includes folding the flags properly and burning them in a controlled environment. Flags that can be repaired are sent to the Simi Valley Women’s Club, where they are fixed and made ready for use again.
An Elks spokesperson noted that they receive hundreds of flags each year.
