Flag Retiring Ceremony

A flag was retired recently at the Veteran's Home of California in Ventura.  The ceremony was also in remembrance of those who died in the 9.11 attacks of 2001.  A color guard from the USAF was there to perform the ceremony in front of a large crowd of veteran's, firefighters, policeman, servicemen, the boy scouts and girls scouts troops.  The old US flag was ceremoniously taken down and with reverence was cut  apart in strips, each strip given a patriotic meaning before placed into the fire by a dignitary.  It was an incredible display of patriotism and reenforced in me the importance of the flag and the pride of being an American.

USAF A1C Daniel Crosier reaches to grab an old US flag as it is pulled down for the last time to be retired, Saturday, September 11, 2010 during a Flag retirement ceremony at the Veteran's Home of California in Ventura.  The ceremony also honored those who lost their lives in at the World Trade Center on September 11, 2001.

City Council member of Ventura Christy Weir, left, USAF veteran Richard T. Lee and Terri Taylor Gonzalez stand for the Pledge of Allegiance, Saturday, September 11, 2010 during a Flag retirement ceremony at the Veteran's Home of California in Ventura.  The ceremony also honored those who lost their lives in at the World Trade Center on September 11, 2001.

USAF A1C Daniel Crosier holds and inspects an old US flag before passing it to USAF Msrgt. Jeff De la Cruz as it is retired, Saturday, September 11, 2010 during a Flag retirement ceremony at the Veteran's Home of California in Ventura.  The ceremony also honored those who lost their lives in at the World Trade Center on September 11, 2001.

USAF Lt. Col. Connie Poulson (cq) cuts an old flag to be retired as members of the USAF 146th Airlift Wing Honor Guard hold the flag, Saturday, September 11, 2010 during a Flag retirement ceremony at the Veteran's Home of California in Ventura.  The ceremony also honored those who lost their lives in at the World Trade Center on September 11, 2001.

Congressman Elton Gallegly burns a strip of an old US flag as it is retired, Saturday, September 11, 2010 during a Flag retirement ceremony at the Veteran's Home of California in Ventura.  The ceremony also honored those who lost their lives in at the World Trade Center on September 11, 2001.