Volunteers carefully handle one of the Legion’s oversized American flags during preparations for an upcoming event. The massive banners are used for display on special occasions and are part of a broader effort to honor and retire more than 10,000 flags this Flag Day. Photo courtesy of Mark Carlson

SUTTER, CA (MPG) - In what organizers describe as one of the largest ceremonial flag retirements in the region, American Legion Post 705 will retire approximately 10,000 American flags during its upcoming Flag Day Ceremony at 10 a.m. June 14 at Sutter Cemetery, 7200 Butte Ave. in Sutter.

Flag Day marks the anniversary of the Continental Congress's adoption of the stars and stripes on June 14, 1777. It is widely observed as a day to properly dispose of worn, faded or tattered American flags, typically through burning or burial, in accordance with the U.S. Flag Code.

Leading the ceremony will be Commander Mark Carlson, who encourages the public to attend and witness the solemn retirement of one flag as part of the official program. The remaining flags will be respectfully retired afterward under the supervision of Boy Scout Troop 7050 and the local fire department.

Among the thousands of flags to be retired this year are eight massive garrison flags, the type used by the U.S. Army, each measuring 20 feet by 38 feet.

“Some of the flags are made of nylon and you can't burn them due to the toxic fumes,” Carlson said. “For those, we’ve built special coffins and will be burying them in unmarked graves.”

Commander Mark Carlson salutes during a recent Memorial Day ceremony held at Sutter Cemetery. Carlson will lead this year’s Flag Day observance on June 14, where American Legion Post 705 will respectfully retire thousands of worn or tattered U.S. flags. Photo courtesy of Mark Carlson

Carlson noted that few formal Flag Day ceremonies take place in the region, leaving many residents uncertain about how to properly dispose of their flags. Over the years, his team has collected flags from as far as 50 miles away and received some by mail from Oregon State.

“This all started as an Eagle Scout project about five years ago,” Carlson said. “We saw the need and we’ve kept it going ever since.”

Flag drop-off locations are available year-round with the Sutter Cemetery Office at 7200 Butte Ave., Sutter; the New Earth Market at 1475 Tharp Road, Yuba City; the Grange Co-op at 1262 Stabler Lane, Yuba City; the Sutter County Elections Office at 1435 Veterans Memorial Circle, Yuba City; and the Live Oak Cemetery at 3545 Pennington Road, Live Oak.

In addition to the upcoming Flag Day event, Carlson said he also hopes to raise awareness of the legion’s two giant 40-by-80-foot flags, which are available for display at special events.

For more information, or to request the use of the large flags, contact Mark Carlson at (530) 701-3914.