Dunbar hosts annual Memorial Day flag retirement ceremony

DUNBAR, WV (WOWK) — Veterans and families came together Monday to properly retire their old flags during an annual Memorial Day ceremony in Dunbar.

Held at the the Donel C. Kinnard Memorial State Veterans Cemetery, the 11th year of the retirement event featured a moment of remembrance for those lost.

“In the past, a lot of people didn’t realize what the flag meant when it was old and tattered and it served its purpose, and they were throwing them in trash cans and just discarding them,” Staff Sergeant Donald Ryan of the U.S. Air Force said. “The proper way is to burn or bury the flag, so we make that opportunity for those people who have flags and want to get them retired properly, to bring them out here. We’ll take care of them on this day.”

West Virginians that missed the ceremony are encouraged to bring their flags for retirement at any time during the year.

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