Giving the Red, White and Blue its proper rest

CENTER LINE — When American flags become worn and tattered after being used for so long, there is a proper way to lay them to rest.

The Center Line High School Army Junior Reserve Officers’ Training Corps did just that when they held a flag retirement ceremony April 22 on the school grounds.

Since the Center Line Public Schools fifth grade students from the district’s elementary schools have studied careers in public service this year, they were invited to participate in the event.

The JROTC students led the ceremony to retire several flags. According to the cadets, there is a dignified way to retire Old Glory. Several of the school’s fire academy students as well as instructors David McGee and David Watts were on site to help out and douse out the flames.

“Today, we honor the symbol of our American freedom,” JROTC Cadet Capt. Noran Al Saedi said. “As long as Americans cherish liberty more than life itself, the Stars and Stripes shall continue to be the enduring banner of the United States of America. Look at her with renewed allegiance, honor, respect.”

As the ceremony got underway, band student Faith Jolin played taps on the trumpet.

“I think it’s nice we’re doing this and to have the kids involved so they can witness it,” the high school junior said.

The stars and stripes were disassembled by color and the grommets removed. McGee used scissors to help the students properly deconstruct the flags and place them in a secured fire pit. Following formal deconstruction, the flags were ceremoniously burned according to specific protocols.

“To disassemble the flag, we open the flag. We’re going to remove the union from the flag. The union is the field of blue with white stars,” McGee said. “It will be burned as one individual piece representing that the United States and the 50 states is undivided and should never be separated. The union stays together.”

Crothers fifth graders JC Garriott and Chris Simmons had the opportunity to carry some of the flags over to the fire pit.

“It’s really cool I get to retire something that represents our state and country,” Simmons said.

“I’m so excited I got to be a part of this,” Garriott said. “I got to help retire a flag. It’s a once-in-a-lifetime experience.”

Although not a JROTC member, senior Paige White, who is in the school’s choir, was asked to sing “The Star-Spangled Banner” prior to the ceremony. She has performed the national anthem at many football and basketball games this year.

“It’s a special moment to me that I get to sing this beautiful song,” she said.

Retired military servicemembers Horace Pruitt and John Hamilton instruct the JROTC battalion at Center Line High School.

“It’s a student-run program, and it’s set up like the military,” said Pruitt, adding the mission of the JROTC class is to “motivate young people to become better citizens.”

“We’re already citizens but they can be better. They know how to communicate and how to conduct themselves,” Pruitt said. “They learn about the government system, to obey laws and the rules of the land.”

Executive Officer Neviah Rodgers, a senior, said being in JROTC has brought her “out of my shell.” She even has plans to enlist in the National Guard.

Following the flag retirement ceremony, the fifth grade students played a variety of outdoor games organized by the high school students.