Staff Writer

There's only one way to fly the red, white and blue and one way for it to be retired.

An American Flag Retirement Ceremony will be held behind Upson-Lee Middle School, Thursday, May 17, at 7 p.m.

Boy Scout Troop 25 initiated the ceremony, and the NJROTC and Daughters of the American Revolution became involved to help bring it together.

Local businesses, schools and residents have given their flags to the Boy Scouts to retire.

Troop Leader Luke Ellington said Congress has mandated that only the military and Boy Scouts can retire a flag. Ellington said a ceremony of this nature has never been held before but hopes to make it an annual event.

Scouts with the troop met Monday night to prepare the flags for retirement.

Ellington said the union, which contains the stars, must remain together to show all 50 states are connected. The red and white are separated. Red stands for blood shed for the country and white stands for the purity.

Several flags were prepared by the troops, including the largest from Tire and Auto Master.

Ellington said it is important to know how to display the American Flag. No tattered flags should be flown.

Below are 10 guidelines on how to fly the United States Flag: