- February 6, 2025
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The American flag that flew above the Volusia Memorial Funeral Home had been through hurricanes, Florida heat and cold snaps.
However, those conditions have taken a toll on the flag, and on Tuesday, Jan. 22, a flag retirement ceremony was held to take down the old flag, ripped and faded, and replace it with a new one.
A small crowd of people watched as members of the Veterans of Foreign Wars and Vietnam Veterans of America lowered the flag before unfolding the new flag and raising it above the attendees.
"Our flag has been a symbol of our patriotism and respect for all of the veterans and their families that we have had the honor to serve here at Voluisa Memorial," Funeral Director Tracy Jackman wrote in an email. "This ceremony was our way of supporting the patriotic spirit of our community"
According to Jackman, the flag has flown above the funeral home for about five years. Due to harsh weather, particularly the 2017 hurricane season, it was decided that the time had come for the flag to be retired and a new one raised in its place. The old flag will be burned during a second ceremony with other flags that residents had also brought in to retire.
Jackman said they were able to fill two large bins with flags residents wanted to retire.
"This is the greatest symbol of freedom, most recognizable symbol of freedom, in the entire world ever," Mayor Don Burnette said. "Not only does it deserve our respect, but we should never forget that the flag is only a symbol of what stands behind it."
