SMITHFIELD, Utah — A U.S. flag was desecrated in protest during the Fourth of July parade in Hyrum. On July 30, that flag was properly retired. American Legion Chaplin Tom Karren welcomed the thirty to forty assembled citizens and offered a prayer. He explained the retirement ceremony and said a few words on the meaning and importance of the flag to him. He then turned the ceremony over to The Boy Scouts of America.

Scout Master Ron Gilman, Smithfield, conducted the flag ceremony. The flag was presented and displayed by the Scouts. Bart Baird, long-time Scout leader of 15 years, from Hyrum, read his thoughts and honored the flag. The flag was pledged by those assembled for the last (and perhaps the first) time and then lowered gently over the fire. A closing prayer was offered by Jared Gibbons. The citizens assembled were then invited to pay respect to the flag in silence, one by one, as they passed the fire and exited the ceremony area.

This was a proper and touching retirement for a flag that was sacrificed for someone’s misguided free speech. Was any thought given for the lives of real American men and women that have been willingly sacrificed so they could have the freedom of expression that the flag represents?

There are two kinds of freedom, anarchy and civil society. The difference is pride/humility, do we use our Freedom of Speech to benefit others and protect their freedoms or to put our opinion above others. If someone dishonors or worse intentionally desecrates the flag they do just that and lose or destroy the very thing for which they claim to strive. No political message could be so important to be written on our flag.

The flag represents the best of America, the Union of Sovereign States, patriot blood, and Justus for all, but in this changing era of the United States of America, when we look upon the flag I believe the most important thing we should see is our civic duty, it’s not just a cliché anymore.

The words below were read as part of the Flag Ceremony

Ladies and gentlemen, before us stands the flag of the United States of America, a symbol of our nation which we all see every day of our lives. Not just a piece of fabric hanging from a pole, but the symbol of our nation as it waves in the breeze and signifies peace and liberty to all those who live under it.

The flag of the United States was born as a symbol of patriotism, a unifying ensign uniting those brave enough to stand together as a new nation, against the tyranny and oppression of their homeland. Under this flag our nation’s founders defended their declaration of independence in the name of freedom and liberty. We pledge allegiance to this flag. We treat it with honor, respect, and pride. This flag represents to us, those things which we hold dear.

Its stripes wave valiantly to remind us of the 13 original colonies, whose patriots stood and built the foundation of this nation. Its stars hang as a reminder of the 50 states which now stand as a republic, united as defenders of freedom and democracy.

Its field of blue signifies loyalty. In a nation built by immigrants, it is loyalty to this great country which brings us all together to stand as “one nation under God”. The color red represents courage, the courage of those who have stood tall at difficult times. We are deeply blessed to have some of those individuals here with us today. Those red stripes signify reverence and admiration to the courage of those who have fought and died so that we might live in a nation that expects and demands “liberty and justice for all”. The color white is for purity. Purity in both thought and deed. It is purity that has kept a strong and mighty nation from oppressing others, yet still compels us to action when we see injustice in the world around us.

Could this flag speak what might it say to us? I believe that it would ask us to remember where it has been and what it has done. This flag before us now might not have ventured far from here at all. But as an emblem, it has lead courageous revolutionaries against insurmountable forces, inspiring their valor at the birth of our nation. It endured the sorrow of a deadly civil war, which rent in two the nation it embodied. It has waved as a symbol of strength and freedom to those fighting for liberty in Europe, Asia, Africa, and the Middle East. And at a moment of darkness it rose from the ashes of New York City and Washington D.C. on September 11th 2001 to show the entire world that our flag, like our country will never yield to those with no respect for life, liberty, and freedom. This flag would ask us to teach those who are going to lead this nation in the years to come, to do so with respect for the past, a vision for the future, and the wisdom to administer the freedoms it represents. It would tell us to insure the same love, respect and sense of duty to their country will be instilled in the leaders of tomorrow as it was in the heroes who have lead us to where we are today. Let this “duty to God, country, and self” be our sacred mission, our commitment as citizens of the greatest nation on earth. God bless America!

Please join with me in the Pledge of Allegiance: I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands, one nation, under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.

Bart E. Baird

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