DEAR SUN SPOTS: I could really use some assistance with the upcoming flag disposal/burning ceremony at 6 p.m. July 21 at the Auburn Masonic Hall, 1021 Turner St. 

We have over 6,000 flags to burn/dispose of properly. Many of these had been placed at veterans’ markers in area cemeteries. We need volunteers to help with this, as well as receptacles such as burn barrels, 50-gallon drums, etc. Even the loan of your backyard fire pit would work.

We welcome Girl Scouts and Boy Scouts to come help, as well as veterans and their family members, Masons, Elks, Grange members, American Legion members, Rotarians, etc. Anyone who is willing to lend a hand will be most appreciated. There will be a bagpiper there to help make the occasion special.

People who are willing can even take the flags to their homes and burn them there, as long as they do it properly.

Please call me at 576-0376 if you can offer to bring burn receptacles, can come help during the ceremony, or can take flags home to burn there. This job will be easy with enough hands. — Jerry, Lewiston

ANSWER: Jerry Dewitt works tirelessly to honor veterans in the area. I hope he will get some calls with offers to assist him in this endeavor. If you are considering picking up some of these flags to burn at your home and don’t know how to do it, according to The National Flag Foundation, first, you’ll want to check to see if you need a permit from your municipality for an open burning and that the flag is made of materials that don’t emit toxins into the air.

Regular-sized and larger flags should be folded into the proper triangle and placed respectfully into the fire that will continue to burn until the flag is completely turned to ash. Those in attendance should stand, salute, say the Pledge of Allegiance then stay silent and reverent until the flag is completely incinerated. The ashes are then buried. This is the preferred way to retire an American flag.

As an alternative, flags can be folded, placed in a box, and buried while showing respect for the flag and operating in silence.

Some flag companies will accept retired flags and will recycle the material to make new flags.

One nonprofit in Troy, New York, recycles the flags and shares them with veterans in a very unique way. Stars for Our Troops (http://www.starsforourtroops.org/Index.html) accepts donations of only American-made 3- by 5-foot flags and repurposes the cantons (stars) before disposing of them properly.

DEAR SUN SPOTS: In response to the letter in the July 12 Sun Spots, Mike Burd (bassist for Dave Mallett) is also an amazing photographer who collects antique cameras. He has a Facebook page. I sent him some cameras and old expired film and he was truly delighted.— Wendy, no town

ANSWER: Perhaps the best way to reach him is by sending him a private Facebook message, but my hope is that Mike or someone who knows him will see this and respond!

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