Flag Day in Rancho Santa Margarita

Rancho Santa Margarita celebrated Flag Day at Central Park in front of the Bell Tower and City Hall just before sunset on June 14, the date that commemorates the adoption of the American flag in 1777.   

Saddleback Valley American Legion Post 862, Boy Scout Troops 618, 727, 623, as well as representatives from Girls Scout and Brownie Troops, all participated in this moving event in the customary tradition of retiring American flags that have become worn, torn, or badly soiled. 

The ceremony opened with a bagpipe rendition of God Bless America, followed by an invocation by Bill Cook, the Chaplain of the American Legion. 

Mayor Tony Beall, accompanied by Mayor Pro Tem Carol Gamble, City Councilman Brad McGirr, Planning Commissioner Mike Vaughn, gave a moving speech expressing the importance of American values and thanking those in service for protecting our nation.  Planning Commissioner April Josephson arrived just in time to retire a flag herself.  "It's a privilege!" she said.

Then a fire was lit, and the first flag to be incinerated, a 48-star flag, was solemnly cut into pieces by the Scouts.  

The flag was first cut in half, keeping the blue field of stars intact (the blue field and stars represent the union of the 50 states, which should never be broken). 

After that, each stripe was cut, making the flag easier to incinerate, and a quote from George Washington was recited:
"We take the stars from heaven, the red from our mother country, separating it by white stripes, thus showing that we have separated from her, and the white stripes shall go down to posterity, representing our liberty."  

The audience remained respectful and solemn throughout the ceremony, and the grommets (the metal rings embedded on the left side of the flag) were awarded to Mike Waugh and Bill Cook, both Viet Nam veterans who now volunteer at Saddleback College to help newly returned veterans enroll in college courses and pursue their education. 

Members of the audience were invited to join in the honor of retiring one of the many flags that had been presented to the City of Rancho Santa Margarita for this special occasion. 

On a personal note, I am very thankful that my family was able to take part in such a moving ceremony here in our beautiful city, not only by donating a flag to be retired, but also by retiring one of many of the flags here tonight.

God Bless America!