Itasca VFW gives dignified send-off to 400 flags

Don't ever call it a flag burning ceremony. You may receive an earful.

When veterans burn old American flags, they call it flag retirement. It's different from how protesters do it.

"We have a complete ceremony that goes with the burning of the flag. We give it the proper respect by saluting it," said Robert Gus Gosanko, a junior vice commander with the North DuPage VFW Post 5167 in Itasca. "Those idiots that burn flags do it out of anger and ignorance."

The post retired roughly 400 faded and frayed American flags Tuesday at Usher Park in Itasca. The flags have been collected over the past two years.

To properly retire a flag, one must fold it in 13 different places -- each fold has its own significance -- salute it and then unfold it before tossing it into the flames.

The ceremony attracted roughly 500 visitors. They included students from St. Luke Lutheran, Benson, Franzen and Peacock schools. Some people brought their own flags to retire. Others wanted to be a part of the ceremony.

"It was a good one," Gosanko said.

The ceremony included a presentation about the history of the flag, meaning of the Pledge of Allegiance and a demonstration of bugle calls and their meaning.

Post 5167 retires flags every two years. Those who wish to drop off a flag for proper retirement can do so at the Itasca Public Library, 500 W. Irving Park Road. For details, call (630) 773-1699.