WATCH: Somber ceremony in Middletown retires damaged U.S. flags

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“I know through the years we always honor our flag and this is the way we dispose of them properly...,” said Mike Gomia, Post Commander American Legion Post 218.

Residents were invited to bring old or worn flags to be disposed of in the somber ceremony.

“This is the best way to retire them and this is the military way of doing things, and we want to uphold what the military does,” Gomia said.