Veterans dispose of used flags
By ERIC SEIVERLING
eseiverling@yourmvi.com
It wasn’t a rocket’s red glare, but flames lit the night sky Monday as local military veterans gathered to hold a flag burning and retirement ceremony at Monessen’s boat docks off of Monongahela Street.
The annual event was organized by VFW Post 1190 in partnership with American Legion Post 28 to properly dispose of worn and old U.S. flags from veterans’ graves, residents’ homes and local businesses.
Approximately 1,800 flags from Monessen’s cemeteries — Grandview, Holy Name, St. Hyacinth, St. Mary’s and Temple Beth Am — as well as flags collected at the Monessen Public Library’s dropbox were donated for the event. Another 300 flags were given by the city of Monongahela.
A small crowd of veterans gathered to participate in the burning, which included a rendition of “Taps,” the “Pledge of Allegiance” and a proper sendoff for the flags.
Participants included Perry George, chairman for cemeteries; Rick Komosinski, laborer; John A. Dudas, American Legion Post 28 commander; Ron Chromulak, commander of VFW Post 1190; and Monessen Magisterial District Judge Wayne Vlasic, adjutant for American Legion Post 28 and VFW Post 1190.
“It’s federal law; it’s what you do,” Chromulak said. “A lot of people don’t know the proper way to do it. These are all flags that people fly at their homes or their businesses. This is the proper way to do it.”
To read the rest of the story, please see a copy of Tuesday’s Mon Valley Independent, call 724-314-0035 to subscribe or subscribe to our online edition at http://monvalleyindependent.com.
