Simi Valley Is Saying Goodbye to Old Glory — And You Can Do It Without Leaving Your Car
Sylvie Belmond 
(CLAIR | Simi Valley, CA) — If your old American flag is frayed, faded or tattered, it still deserves a final moment of respect.
On Friday, June 13, the Simi Valley Chamber of Commerce is making it easy to do just that. From 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., residents can swing by the Chamber parking lot at 40 W. Cochran Street—just across from Costco—for a Drive-Thru Flag Retirement Event. No speeches, no fuss—just a drive-up and drop-off moment of gratitude.
American flags carry weight. They’ve flown over porches, patios and pickup trucks. They’ve been raised at sunrise, folded at dusk and held tightly in solemn moments. When they’ve done their time, they deserve more than a toss in the trash. That’s where this event comes in. Every flag collected will be handed off for proper, respectful retirement by the Simi Valley Elks Lodge during a Flag Day ceremony. In accordance with the U.S. Flag Code, the process involves burning—not in protest, but in reverence.
“This is about honoring a symbol that’s been part of our history, our homes and our lives,” said Assemblymember Jacqui Irwin, one of the event sponsors. “Retiring a flag with dignity is a powerful way to show respect for the values it represents.”
Irwin joins the Chamber, Rose Family Funeral Home and Cremation, and the Elks Lodge in making this event happen—not just for tradition’s sake, but for the people who care about getting it right. It’s a collaboration that reflects Simi Valley’s civic pride, where honoring veterans and symbols of service isn’t reserved for big holidays. It’s built into the everyday.
No need to park or dress up. Just hand your flag to a volunteer and go. Whether you’re a veteran, a Scout parent or someone who found an old flag in the garage, this is your moment. Because how we retire a flag says just as much as how we raise it.
Questions? Call the Simi Valley Chamber of Commerce at 805-526-3900.
