Island ceremony gives Old Glory a proper send-off

Alexander Wattay's wife jokingly calls him the "flag police." He got the nickname because of his willingness to politely correct Hilton Head Island business owners and homeowners flying tattered or old flags and he offers to get them a new one.

"Our soldiers who die defending our freedoms come back home wrapped in those flags," he said. "That just shows you how important this flag is, so you have to make sure you're properly caring for it."

Wattay, commander of the American Legion Post 185, presided over a flag disposal ceremony Sunday at the Shelter Cove Veterans Memorial on Hilton Head. The American Legion and Elks Lodge 2773 on the island were partners for the event.

Only a handful of flags were burned in the ceremony, but 500 to 600 flags remained at the legion post waiting for their fiery disposal later that day.

All of those flags were dropped off by residents throughout the year, Wattay said.

"Too many people are willing to just push their old flag into the trash and send it out with the garbage," he said. "That's not the right way to show respect."

But he was pleased that some residents were willing to handle their flags correctly.

"It's really great that so many did take the time to make sure that their flags were being properly disposed of," he said.

Billy Littin, a loyal knight of the Elks Lodge, said the two groups were glad to continue the Flag Day tradition.

"Being an Elk means charity, great fellowship and honoring what is good in our community," he said. "... Making sure these flags are properly taken care of matches that and shows our dedication to what it stands for."

State Rep. Richard Chalk of Hilton Head, who attended the event, said he was pleased to see the tradition of proper flag disposal continuing.

The Parris Island Marine Corps Band and Marine Corps Color Guard performed at a separate Flag Day event at the Arts Center of Coastal Carolina on Hilton Head. The event included performances by the actors from "Menopause the Musical," currently showing at the arts center, and the Barbershoppers, a local barber shop quartet, among others.

"Being a nonprofit, part of our responsibility is to provide a place to the community to experience the island," said Tim Hager, arts center marketing director. "This being Flag Day, we wanted a place to show the island's spirit, ... and being a military community, that's very important."