Thu 14 Aug 2008
YREKA – Frequent siskiyouyouth.com contributor Suzzanne Lunney of
The photo of Boy Scout Clayton Poore holding a folded American flag was taken during a flag retirement ceremony held at the
For Lunney, a Desert Storm veteran, honoring the American flag is “very important,” and while she was at the ceremony she “just started snapping pictures.”
Viewing the pictures later at home was an emotional experience for Lunney, as was the ceremony.
“I was stunned at the emotions that I caught on that young man’s face…. And the pictures of the flags, the ceremony, were very touching and moving,” said Lunney. “I just got caught up in the moment, and once I started taking pictures, I couldn’t stop. I was very excited to send them to the Elk’s, and to others that were involved with the ceremony once I saw them.”
The photos were first published on the siskiyouyouth.com website in a slide show just before the Fourth of July. Two of the photos were later blown up to poster size and are on display at the Elk’s Lodge in
Lunney also has a message for the public.
“I do want to let the public know that when your flag is worn out, don’t just toss it in the trash, honor it as you would your country and retire it with a ceremony that it deserves. Bring them to your local Elk’s Lodge, any Corp group or the American Legion, and attend the next ceremony. You’d be glad you did.”
Note: as soon as I saw Lunney’s moving photos, I knew they needed to be shown. The respect and reverence on the faces of the Boy Scouts are incredible. I remember remarking to local political commentator Rick Martin at KNTK radio that the photos need no story to accompany them. He agreed. No words could match the images—especially the American flag in flames (the proper method of retirement), which is why the slide show has no story and no advertising .
