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Tuesday, November 13, 2007
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Learning how to respect the flag, down to its ashes
Staff Writer NISSWA - Did you know that the 50 stars in the presidential seal are for the 50 United States?
More than 30 Nisswa Elementary School fourth graders learned this and several other facts about the seal and proper flag etiquette Monday during the annual flag-burning ceremony at the Nisswa American Legion Billie Brown Post No. 627.
This post holds this ceremony and class as close as possible to Veterans Day, said past post commander Bob Gronau.
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The Nisswa American Legion Billie Brown Post 627 color guard escorted two Nisswa Elementary School fourth-grade classes to the post Monday for a flag-burning ceremony and proper flag etiquette class. Brainerd Dispatch/ Clint Wood
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The tattered and faded flags that are properly disposed of by burning are donated by individuals and businesses. A post representative estimated there were about 1,000 such flags at the post.
Three students were selected to each be presented one of these flags, folded in a triangle by retired Marine Maj. Don Bode a few feet away from the burning barrel. Upon presenting each of these flags, Bode saluted each student as he presented flags.
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Nisswa Elementary School fourth-graders Jordon Whitehead (left), Nathaniel Rhode and Carly Miller watched as Bob Gronau (right) prepared to burn a flag Monday during a flag-burning ceremony at the Nisswa American Legion Billie Brown Post 627. Bill Livingston (center), past post commander, assisted in the ceremony. Brainerd Dispatch/ Clint Wood
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He said one of the reasons the flag is folded this way, with the blue field of stars up, is to symbolize the Revolutionary War soldiers' tri-cornered hats.
Later, Bode held his class in the basement of the post. Among the facts he taught the students was what each fold among the 13 meant when a flag is properly folded.
"I've done a lot of learning too," he said. "It's amazing.
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Retired Marine Maj. Don Bode smiled as he assisted Dalton Schreier (right) and a classmate in folding an American flag the proper way Monday during a flag etiquette class at the Nisswa American Legion Billie Brown Post 627. Bode is a past post commander. Brainerd Dispatch/ Clint Wood
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CLINT WOOD may be reached at clint.wood@brainerddispatch.com or 855-5869.
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