6:00: Morning News

Honor Guard retires over 150 American, state and military branch flags during Memorial Day ceremony

INSTITUTE, W.Va. — An annual flag retirement ceremony in Kanawha County typically brings healing to friends and family of fallen heroes and this year was no different.

The Honor Guard Association held a ceremony at the Donel C. Kinnard Memorial State Veterans Cemetery in Institute Monday where over 150 worn American flags, West Virginia flags and military branch flags were discarded.

Michelle Roth, groundskeeper at the Veterans Cemetery, said it’s a way to honor veterans and show respect to the flag.

“We do this to remember and honor our veterans that made the ultimate sacrifice or have passed on. Retiring our flags we also remember our veterans that way,” Roth said.

The ceremony is also for the families, Roth said.

“I’ve seen several people get very, very emotional today,” she said of family members who discarded flags to remember a loved one.

“It’s a symbol of our patriotism and our country, what we believe in and what our veterans fight for,” she continued. “So it’s very sincere to us to retire it properly.”

A member of the Honor Guard made sure to give a proper salute before placing each flag in the fire.

On Sunday, several local Boy Scout troops placed American flags on every grave and niche at the cemetery. Almost 500 men and women have been placed at the cemetery located near the West Virginia State Police Academy.





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