Veterans’ Day Memorialand

Flag Retirement Ceremony

November 11, 2008Fernandez Park

Pinole, CA

The crowd spilled onto Tennent Avenue

Onlookers filled the flagpole area

Connor Miller read the Declaration of Independence

The Pinole Valley High School Marching Band entertained

Jeff Rubin, of the Pinole Historical Society and the

Pinole Community Services Commission, was the emcee

St. Joseph School’s entire student body sang

“America the Beautiful”

Mayor Peter Murray made brief remarks

VFW Commander Carl Petersdorf explained why we celebrate Veterans’ Day

Veterans Bill Vida and Stan Clark

raised the American flag

The crowd gathered in the park for the

flag retirement ceremony

Pinole Historical Society Director Emeritus

Jack Meehan addressed the crowd . . .

. . . and talked about the history of the

American flag — and the history of Pinole

Boy Scout Troop 86 Scoutmaster Bob Marieiro explained the flag retirement ceremony

Boy Scouts carried the first flag to be retired

Boy Scouts prepared the first flag

Flags were respectfully retired

An honorable retirement for a flag

Boy Scout Garrett Dibble played Taps

Scouts carefully placed flags into the fire . . .

. . . and saluted each retired flag

Boy Scout Garrett Dibble played Taps

So many flags were donated that they

had to be retired two at a time

Boy Scout Garrett Dibble played Taps

An enormous flag that once greeted visitors to Pinole

from the reservoir overlooking I-80 was retired

It took all of the Boy Scouts to unfurl that flag . . .

. . . and carry it to the retirement flame

They paid their last respects to the giant flag . . .

. . . and Garrett Dibble played Taps

The event ended with St. Joseph School students leading the audience in “You’re a Grand Old Flag”

THANK YOU TO:Pinole Historical Society

Pinole Community Services CommissionPinole City Council

Pinole Department of Public WorksPinole Community Television

Pinole Valley High School Marching BandSt. Joseph School

VFW Post 2798 of PinoleBoy Scout Troop 86 of Pinole