TUPELO – As taps sounded lightly out of the bugle, hands slowly raised to foreheads for one last salute before nearly 200 symbols of patriotism were laid to rest after years of service.

“They’ve served us well,” said one onlooker as orange flames coming off of the burning red, white and blue garments reflected in his eyes. “And now they’ve been given a proper retirement.”

Sons of the American Legion held its annual Flag Retiring Ceremony on Saturday at Post 49 to properly dispose of old and worn American Flags. The ceremony was one of the last events of the week-long Annual American Legion Department of Mississippi State Convention.

More than 100 people, including several members of the Patriot Guard, who formed a half moon around the burning concrete pit during the ceremony, attended the “flag funeral.”

Outgoing Post 49 Commander Dennis “Greasy” Carlock said every time he passes by a dumpsite and sees an American flag thrown away, or flung thoughtlessly in a ditch along a roadside, it sickens him. So he wanted people to see the proper way to dispose of this country’s most defining symbol.

“Tossing a flag in a garbage can like an old oil rag is no way to show respect to this country and what the flag stands for,” said Carlock. “We should be proud of our flag like we are of the men who fight and die for this country. The flag should be respected and given a proper retirement, just like them.”

After the flags were completely burned, the ashes were buried in a sacred grave that will never be disturbed again, Carlock said.

Incoming Sons of the American Legion Commander Mike Richey said even though burning the flag is the proper way to retire one, that doesn’t mean people should do it on their own because that would be desecrating the flag.

“This is not flag burning,” said Richey. “This is a flag retiring ceremony. This is the proper way to dispose of a flag. We do this out of respect for the flag, our soldiers and veterans and our country.”

Richey said no one has to dispose of their own flags. The American Legion collects old and worn flags all year so they can give them a proper retirement. A drop box at Post 49 is set up so people can drop off their flags. Carlock said flags from all over the area are dropped off at Post 49.

“Just bring them here to us, or call us and we’ll come and get them,” said Carlock. “We take this very seriously and are very passionate about our great flag. We don’t want to see it disrespected so we take it upon ourselves to see it retired the right way.”

Even though the ashes will be taken out and buried this time, Richey said a concrete top is being constructed for the flag pit so when they are burned, it can be covered and never disturbed.

“It’s going to be real nice,” he said. “When we get the top we’re going to make this sacred ground just like a graveyard. No one will ever be able to mess with it.”

Even though the ceremony only took 15 minutes, it took more than an hour for the flags to burn completely and Carlock was there until the last flame burned out.

“I always see this ceremony to the end,” he said. “Sometimes it could take a could of hours, but this is something that’s worth my time.”

Contact Danza Johnson at (662) 678-1583 or danza.johnson@djournal.com.