Troop 434 Flag
Retirement
The American flag to be retired should be folded.
The Troop is assembled in a parallel line formation.
A 5-member retirement crew is assembled in line in
front of the Troop.
An additional person (the cutter) is assembled beside
them, with scissors.
Narrator: In
a few moments, we will be retiring the flag of the
Please stand and remain quiet until the ceremony is
finished.
The following is a direct quotation from the beginning
of Title 36, Section 176, of the Constitution of the
No disrespect should be shown the flag of the
Furthermore, Paragraph K of Title 36, Section 176
states:
The flag, when it is in such condition that it is no
longer a fitting emblem for display, should be destroyed in a dignified manner,
preferably by burning.
We will now retire the flag.
The 5 member retirement crew will hold the flag before
and after it is cut.
(In the event of a very oversized flag, Scouts and
leaders may be asked to come forth from the assembly to help hold the flag.)
One retirement crew member should be holding each
corner of the flag, with the fifth person following the cutter to receive the
13th stripe when it is cut.
(The narrator may choose to read the next narrator
section during the cutting.)
Cutting and folding order is as follows...
At the fire the retirement crew falls into a single
file line facing the audience in the same order.
If using music, start music, and as the music begins,
the narrator begins to speak. (Music suggested is from the soundtrack from the
movie "Glory", CD track #11.)
Narrator: Our
flag is the symbol of our country. Have you ever stopped to think what the flag
really means? The blue in our flag stands for the valor with which our
ancestors fought and died in the many battles that have been fought for our
country and all for which it stands.
The white stands for the purity in all of our hearts.
It also represents the honor that each of us should show in our everyday lives.
The red stands for all of the men and women who have died in the service of our
country, both as members of the armed forces, and as everyday citizens.
Our flag has been carried into every battle into which
there have been
In all of these, we, the American People, have stayed
true to the values that the flag represents. We should always value the
sacrifices that have been made for our flag and the country that it represents.
We have an old friend here who has fulfilled his duty
to our country. He has become worn and tattered and we are here today/tonight
to retire him with honor. We shouldn’t be sad about the retirement of our
friend. We are not burning him in anger, we are only
releasing his spirit so that he can continue to serve in our thoughts.
Narrator pauses for a few seconds, waiting for the
cutting to be completed.
Narrator: Would
all the veterans in the audience please come down and form a line behind the
flag?
Veterans come and stand behind the flag retirement
crew. When all are in place, the narrator continues...
Narrator: I
now call the holder of the 13th stripe to place the 13th stripe,
which stands for the 13th colony, now the great state of
The crew member with the 13th stripe steps out from
the line, walks reverently to the fire, places the stripe on the fire and
salutes it. (salute should be a fast up and slow down)
He then returns to his spot in
line.
Narrator: I
now call the holders of the other four sections of the flag to place their
sections, in order and one at a time, on the fire. The blue field should be
last.
The crew members all follow suit in the same order
which will result in the blue field being the last section placed on the fire,
each crew member saluting as he places his section on the fire.
As the last crew member, with the blue field, places
his section on the fire, the Narrator calls the entire assembly to salute.
Narrator: Scouts!
Ten hut! Scouts! Salute!
As the last section, the blue field is placed on the
fire, taps is played and the salute continues for the duration. At this time,
any other flags to be retired should be placed on the fire, one at a time.
At the end of taps, the narrator calls everyone to
stand down. The crew members return to their places in the retirement line.
Narrator: Ready!
Tu!
Veterans, we thank you for joining us in our salute,
you may now return to your places.
We also thank the retirement crew for their assistance
today with the retirement of the flag.