Sample Flag Retirement Script

Speaker 1: "(Leader of Ceremony), We wish to present a number of unserviceable flags of our country for inspection and disposal."

Leader of Ceremony: "(Speaker 1), Advance with your detail and present your flags for inspection and disposal."

(Speaker 1) calls his detail to attention and stands by flags. (Speaker 2) comes forward and stands in front of flags. (Speaker 1) salutes briskly and holds. (Speaker 2) salutes briskly and when done (Speaker 1) stops saluting. When done with this they start next speech.

Speaker 1: "(Speaker 2) , we present these unserviceable flags for your inspection."

Speaker 2: "Is the present condition of these flags the result of their usual service as the emblem of our country?"

Speaker 1: "Some of these flags have become faded and worn over the graves of our departed veterans and the soldiers and sailors dead of all our nation's wars."

Speaker 2 starts to inspect flags and when done starts next speech.

Speaker 2: "(Speaker 1), please present these flags to (Speaker 3) for his inspection."

When done Speaker 2 moves out of way. Speaker 3 moves to Speaker 2's old position. Starts to speak.

Speaker 1: "(Speaker 3), we present these flags which have been inspected by (Speaker 2) for your further inspection."

Speaker 3: "Have any of these flags served any other purpose?"

Speaker 1: "Some of these flags have been displayed in various public and private places."

Speaker 3 starts to inspect flags and when done starts next speak.

Speaker 3: "Present these flags to (Leader of Ceremony) for final inspection and fitting disposal ."

Speaker 3 moves aside and Leader of Ceremony takes Speaker 1's old position . Starts to speech.

Speaker 1: "(Leader of ceremony), we have the honor to present for your final inspection and proper disposal these flags of our country."

Leader of Ceremony: "Have these flags been inspected by (Speaker 2) and (Speaker3)?"

Speaker 1: "They have ."

(Leader of Ceremony) starts to inspect flags and when done starts next speech.

Leader of Ceremony : "(Speaker 2 and Speaker 3), what do your inspections show and what do you recommend?"

Speaker 2 and Speaker 3: "(Leader), since these flags have become faded and worn in a tribute of service and love, I also recommend that they be honorably retired by fire and from further service."

Leader of Ceremony: "Fellow citizens, we have presented here these flags of our country which have been inspected and condemned as unserviceable. They have reached their present state in a proper service of tribute, memory, and love. A flag maybe a flimsy bit of printed gauze, or a beautiful banner of the finest silk. Its inherent value may be trifling or great; but its value is beyond price, for its precious symbol of all that our veterans have worked for, lived for, and died for--a nation of free men and women, true to the faith of the past, devoted to the ideals and practice of justice, freedom and democracy. Let these faded flags of our country be retired and destroyed with respectful and honorable rites and their places be taken by bright new flags of the same size and kind. Speaker 2, assemble the color guard, escort the detail bearing the flags and destroy these flags by burning."

Speaker 2: "(The Chaplain), will lead us in prayer,"

***The Person giving the prayer may want to use their own*** Chaplain will walk over to the mike and will start his prayer.

Chaplain: Almighty God, bless and consecrate this present hour. "We thank Thee for our Country and its Flag, and for the liberty for which it stands. "To clean and purging flame we commit these Flags, worn out in worthy service. As they yield their substance to the fire, may Thy Holy Light spread over us and bring to our hearts renewed devotion to God and Country. Amen."

Leader of Ceremony: "Hand salute."