��������

Post 108 in Manson, Wash., recently properly disposed of nearly 500 worn U.S. flags, part of its effort to support its community.

American Legion Post 108 in Manson, Wash., conducts an annual Flag Day ceremony that includes properly retiring U.S. flags. The post typically retires more than 100 flags and has gone through as many as around 300 in one ceremony.

But after severe fires hit the area last June, the post was forced to postpone its ceremony. And by the time it had rescheduled it for early October, the flag supply had grown substantially.

On Oct. 10, members of Post 108 gathered at Chelan Fraternal Cemetery to conduct its flag retirement ceremony. Under the direction of Post 108 Commander Clyde McCullough, the ceremony began at 2 p.m. and concluded a little less than three hours later. By its end, nearly 500 worn and unserviceable American flags had been properly retired.

Post Service Officer Norm Manley said the post sees its flag-retirement duties as a responsibility to area residents. “First of all, we’re a small community here … with around 5,000 people total,” he said. “There are a lot of patriots around here that fly their flags. And they are concerned that the flag gets disposed of in the right way. If it wasn’t for us, they wouldn’t be left with many options, other than to throw it in their garbage can. I’ve had a lot of positive comments about how appreciative (the community is) that we are here to do the proper disposal of the flags.”

Post 108 provides a year-round collection point for community members to turn in worn, faded or damaged American flags for proper retirement. The collection box is accessible to the public 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

“Our post is very community-oriented here. We’re a small post, but we do a lot of things in the community,” Manley said. “For us, we want the flag disposed of properly. And there’s an outpouring in the community that they want a place where that’s going to happen. We’re just fulfilling that need for our community. And it’s our honor to be able to do it.”

And the post – and Manley specifically – also now is responsible for Manson properly honoring its Purple Heart recipients, as well as their families. In the spring, Manson became a Purple Heart Community at Manley’s urging.

“Chelan County (where Manson is located) is a Purple Heart County, and they have a real nice celebration in Wenatchee, and I’ve been to them,” Manley said. “I woke up one morning in March and said, ‘I’m going to make Manson a Purple Heart Community.’ But I had absolutely no idea how to do it.”

Manley began researching and found out that since Manson is an unincorporated community, it would need to go through the Chelan County commissioners, as well as another supporting organization.

He presented his idea to the proper officials, and “On April 20 … I went to a meeting of the county commissioners where they read the proclamation, and we became a Purple Heart Community,” Manley said. “It was pretty amazing how fast it went.”

Manson’s inaugural Purple Heart Day celebration took place on Aug. 7 and drew more than 70 members of the community. The event included live music, a reading of the official proclamation designating Manson as a Purple Heart Community, the recognizing of Manson’s Purple Heart recipients and their families, and remarks from Manley.

“Becoming a Purple Heart Community is our pledge to honor their courage publicly, proudly and permanently,” Manley said during the ceremony. “We recognize not only the veterans who bore the wounds of war, but also the families who carried those sacrifices, the parents, spouses, children, and loved ones whose lives were forever shaped by service. To our Purple Heart recipients, and to the families of those who were lost, we meant every word when we said, ‘This ceremony belongs to you.’”

Manley said his own military service is what has made him want to honor those who’ve been wounded or killed in battle.

“I was in the service in the Navy. I got out before Vietnam was really kicking off. So I had it really good,” he said. “No time was I ever in fear of war or anything like that. But I had a lot of friends that ended up going to Vietnam. Some didn’t come back, and some came back screwed up. I was grateful for my good luck, but I also didn’t want anybody to forget about all these other people – not just my friends.”