American Legion Post 3 will retire three old U.S. Flags during a ceremony June 10 at 10 a.m. at 1712 Monroe St.

The program is open to the public, and a plate lunch fundraiser will follow from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.

“Each year, Americans across the Nation unfurl their flags on Memorial Day, Flag Day, Independence Day, and many other holidays. For some, the Stars and Stripes decorate their porches all year as a daily reminder of what it means to be an American,” post commander Carl Baker said.

“But what do we do when our flags become tattered and torn or faded and can no longer fly?

“There is a dignified ceremony to retire the flags,” Baker said. “The U.S. Flag Code reads, ‘The flag, when it is in such a condition that it is no longer a fitting emblem for display, should be destroyed in a dignified way, preferably by burning.’

“If you have never been to a flag ceremony, this would be the time to see how it is done,” he said, adding the ceremony will run from 10 to 11 a.m.

The fundraiser that follows will offer people a menu of barbeque chicken, hamburgers or hotdogs, potato salad, beans, and green salad. “We will have a pretty good spread,” Baker said. The money will go toward meeting the cost of renovations at the post. “We need to replace our icemaker and do some work in our kitchen,” he said.

Baker said anyone who has a tattered, torn or faded flag they wish to retire, they can call him at 601-218-3173, or drop the flag off at the post on Monday, Wednesday or Friday at 6 p.m.