Peterborough American Legion holds ceremony to retire flags

Andy Benoit, left, and American Legion Commander Wayne Thomas retire a flag during a ceremony on Flag Day.

Andy Benoit, left, and American Legion Commander Wayne Thomas retire a flag during a ceremony on Flag Day. —PHOTO COURTESY WAYNE THOMAS

Hundreds of flags were retired between the Toadstool Bookstore and the Peterborough Diner. 

Hundreds of flags were retired between the Toadstool Bookstore and the Peterborough Diner.  —PHOTO COURTESY WAYNE THOMAS

Burning worn or damaged flags is the prescribed manner of disposing of them, per a 1937 American Legion resolution.

Burning worn or damaged flags is the prescribed manner of disposing of them, per a 1937 American Legion resolution. —PHOTO COURTESY HOLLY ALLEN

At the American Legion’s flag retirement ceremony, from left, Roger Cabana, Adam LeClaire, Allison Cabana, Bonnie Benoit, Holly Allen, Tobee Phipps, Andy Benoit, Chaplain Lewis Hansen, Melissa White, Roberta Mack, Lawrence Mack and Commander Wayne Thomas.

At the American Legion’s flag retirement ceremony, from left, Roger Cabana, Adam LeClaire, Allison Cabana, Bonnie Benoit, Holly Allen, Tobee Phipps, Andy Benoit, Chaplain Lewis Hansen, Melissa White, Roberta Mack, Lawrence Mack and Commander Wayne Thomas. —PHOTO COURTESY WAYNE THOMAS

By DAVID ALLEN

Monadnock Ledger-Transcript

Published: 06-20-2025 8:35 AM

On June 14, American Legion Post 5 held a flag-retirement ceremony in downtown Peterborough.

June 14 was Flag Day, and members of the Legion, veterans and others gathered to properly dispose of American flags that were worn or damaged. 

“This is the 20th year flags have been properly retired on Flag Day near the Peterborough Diner,” stated Commander Wayne Thomas of the Legion.

In 1937, the American Legion passed a resolution about flag retirement ceremonies, which have been a ritual ever since. According to the resolution, "The approved method of disposing of unserviceable flags has long been that they be destroyed by burning."

Many state and county government offices and Veterans of Foreign Wars posts have flag-disposal boxes outside of their buildings, and certain police and fire stations also collect them. Once the disposal boxes are full,  organizations such as American Legion, VFWs and the Girl Scouts and Boy Scouts collect the flags and hold retirement ceremonies. 

Thomas stated that hundreds of flags were retired in the light rain.