RUMFORD —  The Rumford American Legion Post 24 held its annual flag disposal ceremony Wednesday evening at its hall at 184 Congress St.

The majority of the 1,200 flags gathered for disposal had flown over military veterans’ gravesites. Others came from local residences and businesses.

“There has been an increase in the number of people in recent years who are flying American flags,” said Fred Milligan, Americanism Officer for the Post 24 and master of ceremonies Wednesday.

“The increased number of flags being flown has resulted in more of them becoming worn,” Milligan said. “The retiring of our nation’s flags provides a service to the community and the nation.”

Assisting in the ceremony were members of the Webelos in Cub Scout Pack 580 and Boy Scouts in Troop 580, both of Rumford. The Flag Honor Guard consisted of Boy Scouts Coyote Freeman and Richard Masterson and Webelos Sean Gould and Dillon McPherson.

“These flags have reached their present state in a proper service of tribute, memory and love,” Bob McPherson, trooper leader and Flag Honor Guard member, said. “Let these faded flags of our country be retired and destroyed with respectful and honorable rites and their places be taken by bright new flags of the same size and kind, and let no grave of our soldier, sailor or airman dead be unhonored and unmarked.”

He commanded the Flag Honor Guard to bring the flags to be burned while all those assembled at the ceremony stood at attention. The flags were lit afire as the American Legion Post offered a final prayer.