Putting well-loved flags to rest

Jerry Holt, Star Tribune

John Enstrom displayed one of the tattered flags that will be retired and burned.

A Ramsey man who created the "Veterans Lake" monument again plans a flag-retirement ceremony.

By PAUL LEVY, Star Tribune

Last update: June 11, 2008 - 12:42 AM

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FLAG RETIREMENT

The public is invited to the flag-retirement event from 2 to 7 p.m. Saturday at Veterans Lake , 8702 181st. Av. NW., Ramsey. For more information, go to www.veteranslake.com or call John Enstrom at 763-441-4086.

BURNING THE FLAG

In 1942, Congress approved most provisions of the Flag Code, first formulated as a set of civilian flag etiquette rules at a national conference in 1923. The Flag Code outlines that "when a flag has served its useful purpose, it should be destroyed, preferably by burning." The American Legion advises, "For individual citizens, this should be done discreetly so the act of destruction is not perceived as a protest or desecration." Many veterans groups such as the American Legion and the VFW hold flag-disposal ceremonies on Flag Day.
Source: www.legion.org

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A Ramsey man who spent eight years and nearly $1 million creating a monument to veterans plans to burn American flags Saturday. Hundreds of them. But with the utmost respect.

"I'm trying to make this the largest flag retirement in Minnesota," John Enstrom said of the third annual flag-retiring event he'll hold on Flag Day on his 120-acre farm, three miles east of Elk River. "Yes, we're burning the flags, but we're also trying to honor the flags in the most respectful way."

Three years ago, Enstrom, 58, dedicated Veterans Lake -- a 22-acre memorial he dug and created -- and invited veterans groups from around the state for the dedication. He later added a 15-foot monument to Minnesota troops killed in Iraq, with the names of those slain inscribed in granite.

But he also wanted to pay tribute to the American flag. He found a way to do so through the flag-retirement ceremony, an opportunity to dispose of torn, tattered, faded and frayed flags "with dignity."

"The flag is more than just 'let's play ball' after the national anthem," Enstrom said. "Most Americans don't know the protocol for retiring flags, so I wanted this to be a real red, white and blue event."

Last year, more than 500 people came to John and Bonnie Enstrom's farm for the ceremony in which 736 flags were retired. This year, he's invited Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts; Blue Star Mothers, an organization of mothers with children who are serving or have served in the military, and politicians from both major parties. The Republican presidential nominee, Sen. John McCain, and Gov. Tim Pawlenty declined invitations to this year's ceremony, Enstrom said. But he said U.S. Rep. Michele Bachmann, R-Minn., will attend.

He's also called banks, supermarkets, and American Legion and VFW posts.

"We'll have more than twice the number of flags we had last year," he said. "Thousands, maybe."

Those flags will be removed from containers, laid out and stacked -- with the stripes all running in the same direction and the blue field with stars to the right, Enstrom said. The larger flags will be folded.

The flags -- made of cotton, nylon or polyester -- then will be placed in 55-gallon drum barrels and burned.

Enstrom, the son of a World War II Army veteran, never served in the military. He created Veterans Lake "to honor these guys, these veterans, because I don't think they get the attention they deserve."

The ceremony begins at 2 p.m. and is expected to end around 7, when workers will partake in a potluck dinner.

Paul Levy • 612-673-4419