By Senior Airman Elora J. Martinez, 319th Reconnaissance Wing Public Affairs / Published December 18, 2019
An unserviceable U.S. flag burns during a ceremonial flag burn Dec. 7, 2019, on Grand Forks Air Force Base, North Dakota. The American Legion Post 6 in Grand Forks worked alongside base honor guardsmen to burn nearly 50 worn, faded and otherwise unserviceable flags with dignity, and remembered the symbolism the flags offered during their lifetime flying over the local community. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Elora J. Martinez)
Base honor guardsmen present flags for review prior to a ceremonial burn Dec. 7, 2019, on Grand Forks Air Force Base, North Dakota. Nearly 50 flags from the local community and base were burned in the ceremony after being deemed faded, worn or otherwise unserviceable by the local chapter of the American Legion. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Elora J. Martinez)
Robert Greene, American Legion Post 6 commander, removes his cap to offer respect during a ceremony for disposal of unserviceable flags Dec. 7, 2019, on Grand Forks Air Force Base, North Dakota. Greene’s American Legion post recruited the help of the base honor guard team to conduct the ceremony and ceremonial burning of nearly 50 faded, worn or otherwise unserviceable flags flown in the local community prior to being retired. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Elora J. Martinez)
Airman 1st Class Cody Nguyen-Gorter, base honor guardsman, holds a U.S. flag during a ceremony for disposal of unserviceable flags Dec. 7, 2019, on Grand Forks Air Force Base, North Dakota. Nguyen-Gorter was joined by fellow honor guardsmen and a local American Legion post for the ceremony, which was followed by the burning of nearly 50 faded, worn or otherwise unserviceable flags which served their lives in the Grand Forks community. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Elora J. Martinez)
Robert Greene, American Legion Post 6 commander, center, conducts a ceremony for disposal of unserviceable flags Dec. 7, 2019, on Grand Forks Air Force Base, North Dakota. The base honor guard assisted with the ceremony, after which nearly 50 faded, worn or otherwise unserviceable flags were burned. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Elora J. Martinez)
Senior Airman Breanna Jannarone, base honor guardsman, clutches an unserviceable U.S. flag to her chest during a ceremonial flag burn Dec. 7, 2019, on Grand Forks Air Force Base, North Dakota. Nearly 50 tattered, worn or faded flags from the local community were burned during the ceremony, conducted jointly by base honor guard and the local American Legion Post 6. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Elora J. Martinez)
Base honor guardsmen and members of American Legion Post 6 offer a final salute during a ceremony for disposal of unserviceable flags Dec. 7, 2019, on Grand Forks Air Force Base, North Dakota. After being inspected and deemed unserviceable, the nearly 50 faded and worn flags were honorably burned. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Elora J. Martinez)
Staff Sgt. Alonzo Clark, installation honor guard program manager, steps forward to place an unserviceable U.S. flag into the flames of a ceremonial flag burn Dec. 7, 2019, on Grand Forks Air Force Base, North Dakota. Ceremonial flag burns such as the one Clark participated in are meant to honorably destroy U.S. flags that have become worn, faded or otherwise unserviceable during the span of their lifetime. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Elora J. Martinez)