DeJohn Funeral Homes & Crematory recently announced it will be hosting its annual Flag Retirement & Remembrance Ceremony at 2 p.m. June 24 at the DeJohn Funeral Homes & Celebrations Center, 12811 Chillicothe Road in Chester Township.
DeJohn Funeral Homes plans to honor a military veteran or service man/woman from every military conflict and war since WWII during the ceremony, according to a news release.
Flags are still currently being collected at each DeJohn Funeral Homes location in Willoughby Hills, Chester, Chardon, and South Euclid.
“Every year, we consider it necessary to host a flag retirement ceremony because it’s one of the few opportunities that we, together as a nation, can acknowledge our past and current servicemen and women,” Ross DeJohn Jr., chief executive officer and U.S. Army veteran stated in the release.
“What many don’t know is that retiring a flag is a way for families and friends to get closure after losing a veteran, and we are honored to assist them in that healing,” he added.
The ceremony will also include a color guard as presented by Chardon VFW 6519, a gun salute as presented by Willoughby Hills VFW 4358, and a live taps performance. There will also be special participation from Munson Boy Scout Troop 91 and local Girl Scout Troops.
DeJohn Funeral Homes will once again have helpful resources and tools for veterans available at the ceremony, the release stated.
Guests are welcome to stay after the ceremony for a hot dog picnic sponsored by Chester Township Fire and Police Departments and the Sweet family’s iScream Truck sponsored by David Spotts.
Families are welcome to bring a worn flag to retire in honor of their loved one. Other collected flags will be cremated at the on-site crematory of the DeJohn-Flynn-Mylott Funeral Home in Willoughby Hills.
This ceremony is free for all to attend, but registration is required at www.dejohnfuneral.com/flag-retirement or by calling 440-516-5555. Those who do not have a flag to retire, but want to attend the ceremony are asked to complete the form at the link with their first and last name, email address, and how they learned about the ceremony.