Flags donated for the Flag Retirement Ceremony (photo courtesy of Oliver's Funeral Home)

By Liam Verster

Flag Retirement

Flags will be laid to rest at annual Flag Retirement Ceremony

Jan 27, 2020 | 5:31 AM

Oliver’s Funeral Home will hold their annual Flag Retirement Ceremony on February 13, to commemorate veterans and National Flag Day.

The tradition dates back to 2015, when Liesa Peters, Funeral Attendant and Communications Relations with Oliver’s Funeral Home, was speaking to a veteran about an old tattered flag across the street, and how it should be thrown out. However, when she mentioned throwing it in the trash, the veteran became upset, saying it was disrespectful to throw out a flag.

“I didn’t know that they shouldn’t go in the garbage, and how many other people don’t know? And he told me the respectful thing to do was to actually burn it”

Peters says she spoke with her manager, and they started a program to collect old flags. She says they gathered 93 old flags that were at their end of their life in the first year, and, to mark National Flag Day (Feb 15), they set them alight.

However, it didn’t go as well as planned.

Meaningful Mementos

Remembering Someone You've Lost at Christmas

Dec 03, 2024

Seasonal Sorrow

How Do You Get Through The Holidays When You're Grieving?

Nov 01, 2024

Upcoming Events at Oliver's

Grief & Loss and Estate Planning Seminars

Oct 02, 2024

“We tried burning them, and that did not work. There was so much nylon in the flags that it just ended up being this big puddle of oil, and a lot of smoke. So we said we could not do this again.”

Peters says she went back to the veterans, and together they decided that the next best thing do do, while still being respectful, was to bury them.

“The City of Grande Prairie donated a plot for us, and February 15 is National Flag Day, so we try to do it in February. And we have the veterans come together, and we roll up the flags, and the veterans lower them.”

The ceremony will begin at Oliver’s at 10:30 a.m., and together they will drive out to the cemetary, where the veterans will lay the flags to rest. After that, they will return to Oliver’s for lunch and some speeches, thanking the veterans for their service.

“We just want to let them know that we are honoured that so many people built this for us, and fought for us, and so much blood was shed, so that we can fly the Canada flag very freely.”

Peters says the public is welcome to attend the Flag Retirement Ceremony.

“Everyone is welcome, the veterans absolutely feel so honoured that people will take the time to come and do this with them. Last year I think we had 49 people, and there was some tears shed that this was done for them. It was worth a lot.”

She adds that they are retiring all sorts of flags, not just Canada flags.

“We have flags from the Yukon, we have flags from Saskatchewan, we have a couple from BC. So no, for all of them, we just want to show respect for them, and obviously the people that dropped off those flags had a lot of respect for them.”

Flag donations are being accepted at Oliver’s Funeral Home, up until February 11.

Anyone interested in attending the ceremony is asked to call 780-532-2929. Peters asks people register before February 11 as well, so they can plan for how much food is needed at the luncheon.