Photo Gallery: Nantucket Flag Day Ceremony At The VFW

Both of the island's veteran organizations (VFW Post 8608 and American Legion Post 82), along with the Sons of the American Legion and Nantucket Honor Guard participated in an annual Flag Day ceremony at the VFW Wednesday afternoon.

There was a colors presentation, TAPS, and a 21 gun salute led by Nick Duarte. Afterwards, a ceremonial burning of the flags began after the ceremony. Thousands of flags were burnt under the watchful eye of the Nantucket Fire Department, which had an engine on scene. 

These flags are inspected by commanders and deemed to be faded, unserviceable, and to have served their purpose prior to being burned. Veterans on the scene explained that each flag goes through this process so they can be respectfully disposed of. Boys and Girls Scout troops assisted with this process.

This is the eighth year that this ceremony has been held on Nantucket. In prior years, veterans would take two or three vans filled with flags to the Cape and participate in Sandwich's annual ceremony.

If anyone has an American Flag they'd like to donate, bins are now located at the Legion, VFW, and Dump.

Below are some photos taken during the event.