Monmouth County Sheriff’s Office Veteran’s Service Council Spearheads Respectful Flag Cremation Ceremony at Monmouth County Fire Academy
/Monmouth County Sheriff’s Office Veteran’s Service Council Spearheads Respectful Flag Cremation Ceremony at Monmouth County Fire Academy
By: Michael Ferraro, Cynthia Scott, and Ted Freeman
At the Jan. 26,, 2022, meeting of the Monmouth County Sheriff’s Office Veteran’s Service Council, discussion was held on destruction of American flags that were worn out, frayed or have served their normal lifespans and could no longer be respectfully displayed. A review of online resources to determine the proper means to collect and honorably dispose of the flags led the Veteran’s Service Council to Monmouth Council Boy Scouts of America and to Boy Scout Troop #66 in from the Aberdeen/Matawan community, who had previously conducted American flag disposal ceremonies.
As research revealed that the proper means to dispose of retired American flags is burning, a meeting was held with Monmouth County Fire Marshal Fred Migliaccio, and Monmouth County Fire Academy Director Anthony Avillo, to enlist the expertise of the fire service. Monmouth County Sheriff Shaun Golden was the genesis for the entire program. With Sheriff Golden’s support, an American Flag Drop Box was placed in front of the Sheriff’s Public Safety Center in Freehold, NJ to collect the retired flags. In a relatively short period of time, over 300 flags were deposited in the drop box, 1100 flags collected by American Legion Post #346 in Neptune and over 400 additional flags from other groups.
With the flags collected, and veteran’s groups such as Vietnam Veterans of America Chapter 12, Association of the United States Army (AUSA), American Legion Post #346, Neptune, Veterans of Foreign Wars Post #2639 in Neptune, and Post #1838 in Manasquan publicizing a flag retirement ceremony, the Monmouth County Fire Academy was selected as the location for the event.
Veterans Service Council Liaison Mike Ferraro met with Fire Marshal Migliaccio and Fire Academy Director Avillo at the Monmouth County Fire Academy to examine the proposed site of the ceremony at the Fire Academy. The Monmouth County Fire Academy was selected as the location because that location had the capability of providing a safe environment for a live fire evolution, a safe area for spectators as well as safe accessibility for the Boy Scouts to safely apply the flags to the fire. The area also proved large enough to provide adequate viewing as well as safe fire control. A 10-foot by 10-foot fire pit enclosure was created for the ceremony with adequate fire protection provided on-site. After the ceremony, the fire pit was moved to another location at the Fire Academy where it can also be used for fire department training as well as future scheduled flag retirement ceremonies.
At that meeting, the subject of the burning of nylon flags was discussed.as they would likely melt instead of burn. Fire Marshal Migliaccio had the knowledge and resources to create a safe location with a non-flammable structure with a metal base in which to burn the flags.
In the early evening of June 7, 2022, with a light rain falling, the Flag Retirement Ceremony began at the Monmouth County Fire Academy. The ceremony started with brief opening comments, a poem read by Scoutmaster Robert Kee of Troop #66 and the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag recited by all in attendance. As the properly folded flags were placed in the fire by Boy Scout Troop #66 from Aberdeen/Matawan, Echo Taps was played by two buglers. The opening comments and ceremony took approximately thirty minutes with all 1500-plus flags respectfully burned. Following the ceremony, the Fire Marshal’s Office collected the materials remaining and respectfully disposed of the remains of the flags.
The Monmouth County Sheriff’s Office recognized the assistance of the Veterans Service Council, Boy Scout Troop #66 from Aberdeen/Matawan, Fire Marshal Fred Migliaccio and Fire Academy Director Anthony Avillo for their assistance in putting the ceremony together. Based on the large number of flags collected, it appears that these flag retirement ceremonies should occur quarterly with the next one held in September 2022 coordinated by Veterans Service Council Liaison Michael Ferraro.
Director Anthony Avillo of the Monmouth County Fire Academy, a division of the Monmouth County Sheriff’s Office, said, “It is especially heartwarming to see the passion and dedication to our flag and our country displayed by these young Scouts. The Monmouth County Fire Academy is proud to be able to provide a venue for this significant display of patriotism.”
“The flags we retired from service served many purposes”, said Sheriff Shaun Golden. “During their useful lifespans, they proudly hung from a flagpole in a front yard, were draped from a porch railing to show patriotism, rested on the coffin of a soldier who made the ultimate sacrifice for his or her country, or a veteran, who served in the United States Armed Forces that was called home by the Lord. This service, and those which will follow, will remind each of us that the American Flag remains the symbol of freedom and democracy throughout the world.”
The success of the program was ensured by the collaborative efforts of all divisions of the Monmouth County Sheriff’s Office including the Veteran’s Service Council, Monmouth County Fire Marshal’s Office, Monmouth County Fire Academy, working in concert with veteran’s groups such as Vietnam Veterans of America Chapter 12, Association of the United States Army (AUSA), American Legion Post #346, Neptune, Veterans of Foreign Wars Post #2639 in Neptune, and Post #1838 in Manasquan.
For additional information about respectfully, appropriately and with dignity properly disposing of retired American flags, please contact Monmouth County Sheriff’s Office Veterans Service Council Liaison, Mike Ferraro, at mferraro@mcsonj.org
