The ritual of disposing tattered American flags is a sacred tradition, Veterans of Foreign Wars commander Billy Gates said as he led a ceremony on Veterans Day Friday.

U.S. military veterans from Atmore’s American Legion Post 90 and Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 7016 gathered at the Veterans Memorial Monument in front of Atmore City Hall Friday for the flag retirement ceremony.

“We are drawn here together in the sight of God to pay our last respects to this symbol of our great nation, America,” Gates said.

As the veterans carried out the process of “inspecting” the flag a final time, Gates explained the use of fire as a means of disposal for retired flags.

“In recent years, the media has shown the burning of American flags by protesters both foreign and domestic,” Gates said. “This type of destruction of an American flag is not acceptable and is also a violation of federal, state and sometimes local laws. Many Americans, unfortunately, now think any burning of an American flag is wrong. This not entirely the case.”

Gates cited the U.S. Flag Code as the reason behind burning old flags.

“The flag, when it is in such condition that it is no longer a fitting emblem for display, should be destroyed in a dignified way, preferably by burning,” Gates quoted.

Before retiring the first flag, Gates and other veterans gave “Old Glory” one last salute.

“As you can see, this banner of freedom before you is worn, tattered and soiled from use and age,” Gates said. “Her broad stripes are no longer a fiery red and pure white, but faded and worn. The flag of our nation should always be a strong, vivid symbol of our land and fly brightly in our minds. So it is now that we commit this flag, which no longer can fulfill these duties, to the fire so that we may replace it with a new flag to properly symbolize our nation.”

Following the burning ritual, the veterans presented the crowd with a new flag.

“May the spirit of (the retired flag) be born again in the new flag we now fly,” Gates said.