Daniel R. Olsen Post 594 participated in our 3rd annual flag retirement ceremony.  This year the event was held prior to Flag Day (June 14) on June 13th because all of the parks within Eagan were reserved.  The event was held at Thomas Lake Park (4425 Pilot Knob Road) at the pavilion.

The event actually started the day before (June 12) with members of the Post and Auxiliary meeting to inspect and fold flags.  The flags had been gathered from the collection boxes at the Eagan Community Center and Eagan Sam’s Club.  An exact count of flags wasn’t performed but it was estimated well over 600 flags were collected since Flag Day 2018.  The flags were of all sizes and types.  About 20 flags were found to be serviceable and will be passed out to the City of Eagan and other sources depending on the need and size of the flag.  (See below for more on that topic.)

For the flag retirement ceremony, a brief introduction about the U.S. Flag and why the event was being held was read by Post Commander John Flynn.  This was followed by Post members Danny Seanoa and Frank Caldwell demonstrating how to properly fold a flag.  Auxiliary member Sue Flynn read a script about what each fold meant to the audience. Next members of the post officially retired the flags.

Finally members of local Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts and adults folded and inspected the remaining flags.  The flags were then placed in the fire for proper disposal.

Flag Donation

As noted above during the flag inspection and folding, not all flags were found unserviceable.  The Post and Auxiliary members found over 20 that were serviceable.  Of those, six were believed to be memorial flags or those that are placed on coffins of deceased veterans and military members.  Those flags were brought to the Base Honor Guard at the 934 Airlift Wing for further inspection.  It turned out two of the flags were not memorial flags which should be 5 feet by 9 1/2 feet. 

Inspecting the four remaining flags found two that were slightly soiled.  Those were presented to the Base Honor Guard which is comprised of members from the 934 Airlift Wing (AFRC) and 133 Airlift Wing (ANG).  Members of the team can use the flags for practice flag folding for military honor funerals.

The remaining two servicable flags were presented to Fort Snelling National Cemetery.  The cemetery uses these flags and 700 others on Memorial Day to line the roadways.