Submitted Photo Members of the Minot Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 753 and Auxiliary held a flag-burning ceremony on Sunday, Dec. 31, to properly retire old U.S. flags. Eight-hundred fifty pounds of old flags were burned during the ceremony.

Submitted Photo Minot Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 753 and Auxiliary members taking part in the flag-burning ceremony, and their areas of service, are, from left to right, Craig Schalesky, VFW Auxiliary; Loren Headrick, Vietnam; Paul Simonson, Vietnam; Dave Smith, Thailand; Scott Paulson,VFW Auxiliary president; Bruce King, Middle East and other areas; Trent Thomas, VFW commander; and Jerry Darling, Vietnam. During the ceremony Darling read a script including: "Today we are drawn here together in the sight of GOD to pay our last respects to the symbol of our great nation, and to retire these flags.” The script stated these flags will be replaced with new flags to continue to symbolize this country.