SONS OF THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION

LT NATHAN GANN CHAPTER

P.O. BOX G LUFKIN, TEXAS 75902-6701

On Saturday, June 12, 2009, the Captain William Baron Chapter of the Sons of the American Revolution and the Mary Tyler Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution held a flag retirement ceremony at the Tyler Memorial Cemetery in Tyler, TX.   Fred Preston, President of the Lt. Nathan Gann Chapter of SAR in Lufkin, Neal Naranjo, VP, and J. Neal Naranjo II also of the Lt. Nathan Gann Chapter also participated.  Preston took approximately 45 flags from the Lufkin area and the total to be retired was 300.   Neal Naranjo and his son helped fold some of the flags and helped in the burning.  Neal and Fred Preston both participated in the posting of the colors.

J. Neal Naranjo II and others folding the remainder of the flags.

Anna Marie Lee of the Mary Tyler chapter of the DAR led in the Pledge of Allegiance, Paula Warren, DAR, sang the National Anthem.

Anna Marie Lee, Regent of the Mary Tyler Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution.

Table of flags and pit. Used a concrete part of a septic tank for burning.

The guest speaker was state representative, the Honorable Leo Berman. 

Lawrence Ashburn read a poem about the flag. Lawrence is the father of Doug Ashburn of Lufkin.

Flags were posted at the beginning of the ceremony and then retrieved after the playing of taps which was done as the first flags were burned. Fred Preston is second in line and Neal Naranjo is third.

Flags were carried over the flames one at a time and dropped into the fire.

The fire made things unconfortable considering the air temperature was in the 90's even at 10:30 AM.

Fred Preston, left, and Neal Naranjo, right, J. Neal II in background.

Betty Preston, J. Neal Naranjo II and Neal Naranjo.

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