RIO LINDA, CA (MPG) - The Sons of the American Legion from Post 521 is scheduled to hold a fundraiser and flag retirement ceremony for Rio Linda veterans and their families on Nov. 15 from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. at the legion’s hall. 

The organization is expected to hold a fish fry fundraiser at $25 per plate, featuring fish and fries or onion rings, hush puppies and coleslaw. After the fundraiser, at approximately 5:30 p.m., the Sons of the American Legion will participate in a ceremony, retiring old, worn and faded U.S. flags.

Squadron Commander Gregg Canady from the Sons of the American Legion said that the fish fry and flag retirement ceremony is held twice a year. This year was the organization's second year participating in the event. 

A yard in the back of the American Legion property holds several fire pits where old and tattered flags will be visually inspected by members of the organization to verify its retirement eligibility. 

An adjutant for the organization said that roughly 150 flags were properly retired in the event’s first year by being thoroughly burned in a ceremonial setting, featuring a small reading of text regarding the proper retirement of U.S. flags. 

“You don't have to generally be a member, you can certainly do your patriotic thing with your old shabby flag, and bring it and burn it,” the adjutant said. 

Flags may be brought to an American Legion Post to be retired by the flag owner or legion members, the adjutant said. Most American Legions have mail drop boxes for flags to be collected. 

Approximately 120 flags have been retired by the legion in 2025 so far, the adjutant said. In the past, members of local Boy Scout troops and Veterans of Foreign Wars posts have joined the legion in flag retirement ceremonies and continue to welcome those organizations to participate in the patriotic ceremony. 

Within the American Legion organization are the Legionnaires, Auxiliary and Sons of the American Legions, consisting of veterans, their wives and members whose fathers or grandfathers are veterans. 

Regarding the ceremony, the adjutant said “It's just a few opening sentences that acknowledge that we all have these flags out here, and we all acknowledge that they have lived their useful service, and to fly them now would not be the right thing for those flags, and the command the respect that they deserve for our country.”

The adjutant said the tattered flags are then authorized by the legion officers to be properly retired. Any remaining flags are held in the legions storage until the next ceremony. 

Rio Linda’s American Legion Post 521 is located at 6700 8th St. and can be contacted at (916) 991-9921. The legion’s website is https://alpost521-riolinda.org/ and its Facebook page is https://www.facebook.com/p/Legion-Post-521-100064915655367/.