In a moving formal tribute leading into the Memorial Day weekend, Chaparral High School Junior ROTC cadets retired 25 frayed American flags in service to community and country.
Senior Derek Myrdahl, the battalion commander for the ending school year presided over the ceremony Friday in the school auditorium.
Cadets participated on Tuesday in the actual burning of the folded retired flags in a closely monitored dignified event outside the school. A video from that exercise was part of the later ceremony.
The high school cadet leadership, now a week from graduation, took turns at the podium explaining details of the history and meaning of the American flag and the proper method of folding it and retiring it.
The JROTC battalion received the flags for the service project from the Harker Heights Veterans of Foreign War Post 3892. Ashes will be buried at the Central Texas Veterans Cemetery.
Originally, the American flag bore 13 stars and stripes to represent the colonies that preceded the nation’s 50 states.
The stars and stripes collectively represent hope, trust and prosperity.
Red symbolizes hardiness and stamina, characteristics the colonists showed in standing up for American independence at a time when such patriotism to the fledgling nation was considered traitorous to many in power.
White stands for purity and innocence and speaks to the colonists’ steadfast faith in God.
Blue stands for vigilance, perseverance and justice, characteristics still embodied in American patriots, Myrdahl pointed out during the ceremony.
It takes 17 folds to properly secure a flag, which cadets demonstrated on stage during the event.
“We felt the need to reach out to our community and do something for our nation, and we wanted to stand out,” the exiting battalion commander said.
“To our knowledge, there has not been a flag retirement ceremony in our district from the schools. We wanted to do something unique and leave a positive impact.”
Myrdahl and the rest of the Chapparal High School Class of 2026 is the first to spend all four years at the newest Killeen ISD school, a fact many seniors celebrate.
“I’m really happy I got to be a part of this and honor my country. I am honored because I saw this program start from nothing. We’ve made a lot of progress in just four years.”
Photos: www.killeenisd.org/photos