Natchitoches’ Scout Troop 60, Gordon Peters Post 10 of the American Legion, Post 1962 of the Veterans of Foreign Wars, NSU’s Army ROTC and the Natchitoches Lions’ Club joined together to host a US Flag Retirement Ceremony at Parc Natchitoches Monday, February 21.
Veterans from the Legion and VFW posts presented a worn American flag to the ceremony’s commander, after which it was properly disposed of by burning. NSU’s Army ROTC provided the Color Guard and the Scouts assisted with the ceremony. The Lions’ Club presented each Scout with a special patch given to Scouts who participate in community service activities with the Lions’ Club.
The event was attended by around 25 veterans, family members and community citizens. State Senator Louie Bernard, Sheriff Stuart Wright, Mayor Ronnie Williams, and Councilwoman Betty Sawyer-Smith were the guests of honor.
It is ceremonies like this that are the warp and woof of what Winston Churchill termed “…the long continuity of our institutions…”, the ceremonies that bind us together as a nation.
The Ceremony was dedicated to the memory of John Masson. Mr. Masson was a member of American Legion Post 10 and Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 1962. He served our nation with distinction in the US Army’s Americal Division in 1969-1970, earning two Purple Hearts and a Bronze Star. Husband, father, grandfather, veteran and community leader, John Masson was the embodiment of the Citizen Soldier. This year’s Flag Retirement Ceremony began what will hopefully be a long tradition in his honor.
