John Crumpton bundles a torn American flag that was to be be retired Monday in Oxford. Daryn Slover/Sun Journal

From left, veterans Ed Young, John Crumpton, Howie Munday and Bob Spencer say the Pledge of Allegiance during the flag retirement ceremony Monday at the American Legion Post 112 in Oxford. Daryn Slover/Sun Journal

John Crumpton, 97, of Oxford was a senior in high school when Pearl Harbor was attacked on Dec. 7, 1941. Crumpton wanted to enlist in the U.S. Navy at that moment, but his father made him graduate from high school first. Crumpton went on to serve during World War II, Korea and Vietnam. Daryn Slover/Sun Journal

A flag retirement ceremony was held Monday at the Anderson Staples American Legion Post 112 in Oxford. Daryn Slover/Sun Journal

The only proper way to retire an American flag is to burn it, said American Legion Post 112 commander Howie Munday. Daryn Slover/Sun Journal

Commander Howie Munday of Oxford, center, talks Monday with 86-year-old National Guard veteran Ed Young of Oxford outside the American Legion Post 112 in Oxford. Daryn Slover/Sun Journal

Veterans John Crumpton, left, Ed Young and Howie Munday participate Monday in the flag retirement ceremony at the American Legion Post 112 in Oxford. Daryn Slover/Sun Journal

Veterans John Crumpton, left, Rodney Winslow and Ed Young, all of Oxford, fold an American flag Monday during a flag retirement ceremony at the American Legion Post 112 in Oxford. Daryn Slover/Sun Journal

American flags are retired Monday during a ceremony at American Legion Post 112 in Oxford. Bob Spencer of Poland, along with other veterans, placed 360 American flags on the graves of veterans throughout Oxford before Memorial Day. The flags were removed following Veterans Day and burned. Daryn Slover/Sun Journal

U.S. Navy veteran Bob Spencer of Poland, right, tends to the fire Monday during a flag retirement ceremony at the American Legion Post 112 in Oxford. Members of Post 112 burned torn flags and the 360 flags that were placed on each veteran’s grave located in the 19 cemeteries throughout Oxford. Burning a flag is the only proper way to dispose of an American flag, said post commander Howie Munday, not pictured. Daryn Slover/Sun Journal

Commander Howie Munday of Oxford takes a tattered American flag Monday from a man who dropped it off for retirement at the American Legion Post 112 in Oxford. Daryn Slover/Sun Journal

Veterans John Crumpton, 97, and Ed Young, 86, fold an American flag Monday during a flag retirement ceremony at the American Legion Post 112 in Oxford. Daryn Slover/Sun Journal

An American flag is dropped into the fire Monday during a flag retirement ceremony at the American Legion Post 112 in Oxford. Daryn Slover/Sun Journal