Henryetta Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) Post 539 hosted a Mass Flag Retirement Ceremony by Henryetta BSA Lone Scout Shay Seamon on Friday afternoon.

Seamon was awarded with a Purple Heart Merit Patch by Don Nichols, Commander of the Military Order of the Purple Heart.

VFW District Commander Aaron Smith, Post 539 Veteran Service Officer Tricia Bear, Post 539 Women’s Auxiliary members Tamara Brett and Tamara Williams, District American Legion Color Guard SAL Detachment, Chris Sherbourne as well as other VFW and American Legion members helped with the ceremony.

“I want to thank all who came out to be a part of the first of many flag retirement ceremonies held by our veterans and performed by Lone Scout Shay,” Post 539 Commander Otis Seamon said. “Thank you to the two active duty Navy and Marine Corpsmen in attendance.”

The flag retirement ceremony is held to show honor and respect for flags that are rendered unserviceable and unable to fly, Commander Seamon said.

Flags are shown their last respects, then folded and laid to rest in a fire pit. Boy Scouts keep the grommets from each flag to show how many times they have completed a ceremony and to remember what the flag means to them and our country.

“Everyone in attendance was in awe of how the ceremony went,” Commander Seamon said. “This was a true blessing to be had by all. Once again, thank you to everyone for making this veterans event possible.”