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By Chuck N. Baker
(Boulder City, NV) – When it comes to remembering the heritage from patriotic American families there are several organizations that continue to embrace and honor their lineage. At the forefront is The National Society of the Daughters of the American Revolution (NSDAR).

Recently, the organization held an American flag ceremony at the Veterans Memorial Cemetery in Boulder City. Patriotic groups retired old flags that had been damaged over the years. Nikki Allen-Kyger, a regent with the Valley of Fire NSDAR chapter, thanked the audience at the opening ceremony for their devotion to the flag and our country.

Chaplain Alexx Green delivered an invocation, followed by a musical piece preformed by bagpiper Dennis Hangey with the Scottish American Military Society. Shirley Dunph led the Pledge of Allegiance and Liberty High School AFJROTC Posted the Colors. The Green Valley High School Madrigals provided additional music.

Several speakers presented formal patriotic comments while others presented personal statements.

Fred Wagar, Deputy Director of the Nevada Department of Veterans Services, stated the American flag is known by several names — Stars and Stripes and Old Glory, just to name a few. He noted, “This piece of cloth can create many emotions as the flag represents so much.” Wagner explained the importance of retiring a damaged flag in the most dignified way possible adding, “We are all here because we respect this flag.”

See Top 10 Things to Remember About Flag Retiring under Honoring Our Heroes

Formal selections were read by NSDAR officials including Ann Phillips, who read “The America’s Creed” and Michele Mueller who read “The Preamble to the Constitution” as well as Bobi Pike-Oates who recited “The Thirteen Folds.” During Pike-Oates’ presentation, members of Boy Scout Troop 7 demonstrated the folds using a large flag. Moreover, Madison Van Ness, from the Children of the American Revolution, preformed a personal poem titled “Proud To Serve You.” (See the poem at the bottom of this article.)

The conclusion of the formal ceremony saw members of the audience help carry the distressed flags outside to the Walk of Life, where a burn pit is located. They stood with their hands over their hearts while “TAPS” played in the background. One by one, men and women, boys and girls placed the flags over the flames. A military helicopter flew overhead to express honor. It flew low enough for those on the ground to easily see the smiling pilot, prompting participants to wave excitedly at him. It was a fitting end to a day of respect, honoring America’s flag, from the ground to the sky.

PROUD TO SERVE YOU
by Madison Van Ness
Children of the American Revolution

I’m the symbol of hope and the banner of freedom
I fly high to let all know
I’m not ordinary but I’m extraordinary
I have grown since watching over the first little thirteen colonies
Born from the flames of their fight of freedom
To the proud fifty sovereign states of a united nation that still stand tall
That watched over all with Justice and Charity
The people that fight for this nation look to me in their time of need to find
Hope and the Courage to push through the darkest of hours
One that stands for Freedom, Equality, Justice and Liberty
I’m a banner of Red, White and Blue
And I stand tall to let all know I am the flag of the United States of America
I could never be more proud to be the symbol of this nation

Finally, check out this link to the Top 10 Things to Remember About Flag Retiring: http://veterans.nv.gov/news/209482/top-10-thngs-to-remember-about-flag