ELYSBURG, Pa. — Before Knoebels Amusement Resort opened for the day, a crowd gathered at the park near Elysburg for a flag retirement ceremony. The ceremony is a way to respectfully dispose of unserviceable flags.
"It can be that they're faded or weathered, whatever it may be, we've gathered several flags for retirement," Scout Master Sharon Smith said.
Members of Boy Scout Troop 4077 out of Montour County participated in the ceremony.
"All of these scouts have been taught flag service and flag respect as part of their journey through scouting, so we always make sure that they understand respect for the flag and what it means to our country, and that really is the ultimate symbol of what our freedom means," Smith said.
This is the second year Knoebels held this ceremony. Dick Knoebel says it's very important to him.
"Well, I'm a marine veteran, and the flag means so much. We had flags around here that I used to burn personally. They would always turn them in to me," Dick Knoebel said.
"It's beautiful. It's so respectful. It gives me goosebumps," Melissa Baumer said.
The Baumer family of Bloomsburg brought a flag to be retired.
"It's the respectful thing to do. You don't throw them in the trash; you dispose of them properly," Baumer said.
Dick Knoebel says he plans to hold this ceremony every year.