Group Gathers to Retire United States Flag

Veterans and campers were at the Muskingum County Fairgrounds Friday afternoon for a retirement ceremony.

Hundreds of campers with the Good Sam Camping Organization are at the fairgrounds all weekend, and to kick it off the organization retired several boxes of American Flags.

“It’s just retiring the bad and worn out flags and all. it’s the proper way to dispose of them,” said Keith Hallowell, the State Director of the Good Sam Camping Organization. “Just a way to get rid of them in an honorable way.”

Hallowell said retiring the flags during a ceremony gives the flag respect. He added that it’s better than throwing them away or turning them into rags or clothing. It’s been several years since the organization has been in Zanesville.

“We get good representation here out of the American Legion and the VFW both,” Hallowell said. “Good Sam likes to do this every few years. i think we’ve done it here about six years ago. We were here and did it. It’s just a way that when people’s flags wear out, that they have a way to get rid of them honorably.”

The ceremony started with a presentation of arms and ended with several speakers discussing the importance and meaning of the flag.