Pat Kilkelly of AMVETS Post 61 holds some of the hundreds of U.S. flags
that will be retired at a special ceremony on June 19 in Louisville.

LOUISVILLE, KY — The U.S. Flag Code 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 way, preferably by burning.”

To give residents an opportunity to properly decommission their worn, frayed and otherwise damaged flags, AMVETS and the U.S. Postal Service will conduct a flag retirement ceremony on Sunday, June 19 in honor of Flag Day.

The ceremony will begin at 3 p.m. at AMVETS Post 61, 9405 Smyrna Road.

The free event, attended by residents who want to pay tribute to the flag and what it represents, was started in 2004 by Marine veteran and Louisville Postmaster Richard Curtsinger.

“We started this event to give the community a way to respectfully retire their worn and torn flags,” said Louisville Postmaster Richard Curtsinger. “The ceremony itself has become an educational experience for the public, especially the youth who attend.”

The AMVETS built a special retirement pit for the ceremony; a large concrete area with sand on top. When the flags are being prepared for retirement, they will never accidentally touch the ground.

Old U.S. flags that need to be retired can be dropped off at any area Post Office during normal business hours.

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