Matt Lasley | News-Gazette More than 600 unserviceable American flags were placed in the American Legion Post 81's fire pit to be burned during its annual Flag Day Ceremony on Friday, June 14.

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Leitchfield’s American Legion Post 81 held its annual Flag Day Ceremony on Friday, June 14.

More than 600 unserviceable American flags were placed in the Legion’s fire pit to be burned as members of the American Legion, Sons of the American Legion, Ladies Auxiliary, Cub Scouts, Venturers, and various other community members paid homage.

According to new Post Commander Shane Thomason, Flag Day marks the one time per year when it is appropriate to dispose of an American flag, and the flag must meet a certain criteria.

In order for an American flag to be deemed unserviceable, and therefore suitable to be burned, a flag must first be presented to the Legion for inspection.

If a flag is discolored, tattered, or has been disfigured in some other fashion, it may be deemed unserviceable and will be held by the Legion until Flag Day, on which day it will be respectfully burned.

Thomason said numerous people from the community gave the Legion their unserviceable flags to be disposed of appropriately.

Prior to the Ceremony, the flags are piled in the Legion’s fire pit and doused with kerosene.

During the Ceremony, the Legion’s acting Sergeant at Arms presents an unserviceable flag to be inspected by the Post’s Vice Commander and Commander.

After the Vice-Commander and Commander have both inspected the flag and deem it unserviceable, they advise the Sergeant at Arms that the flag must be burned.

The Sergeant at Arms then lights a torch and sets the piled flags aflame.