AEDC Honor Guard available for flag retirement services

  • Published
  • By Philip Lorenz III
  • AEDC/PA
Arnold Air Force Base, Tenn. --  Two Arnold Engineering Development Center's (AEDC) Air Force Honor Guard members salute an American flag while it burns during a flag retirement ceremony held at Camp Arrowhead, a Boy Scout camp on the base near Woods Reservoir. 

One of the honor guard's duties is to destroy unserviceable flags in a respectful and dignified manner. Community members, Boy Scouts and schools turn in faded, torn and damaged flags to the honor guard throughout the year to be retired in this manner.
During this retirement event for Old Glory, one of the flags measured 50 by 70 feet. 

Sergeant Bankston said it is imperative that no recognizable remnants of the flag remain when the ceremony ends. 

Any individual or organization wanting to retire a U.S. flag may contact Air Force Tech. Sgt. John Bankston, Non-Commissioned Officer in Charge of AEDC's Honor Guard, at (931) 454-5173.