PROVO — The bleachers were filled before the event even started Monday night. Hundreds of people lined the Macey's parking lot next to a pile of battered American flags sitting folded 3 feet tall atop the 5-foot-long table ready to be retired.

This year marked the 15th annual flag retirement ceremony held in honor of Flag Day by Boy Scout Troop 999.

"People enjoy this just like they enjoy the fireworks on the Fourth of July," said James Brown, chairman of the event. "They get the opportunity to see patriotism in action. They get to honor not only the flag and the country, but those people who fight for the country."

This year, three U.S. Marines spoke during the event about their service and how much they loved America. Devin Halvorson, the senior patrol leader for Boy Scout Troop 999, conducted the event. He started off by explaining what the U.S. flag represents.

"The flag is not only a piece of cloth, it is a deep representation of our country," Halvorson said. "The flag is an emblem of our freedom and independence."

He explained the meaning each color on the flag: red standing for the blood of those who have died for the country, white standing for purity and blue standing for truth and justice. He said when someone sees the American flag, they not only see the flag, they see a nation.

Two Scouts showed how to properly fold a flag and Halvorson explained what each of the 12 folds means. When he recited the meanings, Rebecca Clarke and her family, Orem residents, tried to memorize them. Her family had never been to a flag retirement before, and she said she was surprised to hear that flag burning could be a positive thing. Clarke's two daughters thought it was a special experience.

"I was kind of nervous at first, but afterwards I felt like it was showing respect to our country," Emme Clarke, 6, said of watching the flags being retired.

It was Provo resident Lynda Price's first time as well to see a flag retired. Price, 61, remembers saying the pledge of allegiance in school every day growing up. She said she doesn't know if the younger generation respects the flag as much as hers does, but she said the flag retirement ceremony shows there is still "so much love and respect for the flag."

As the first flag was brought over to the fire to be burned, Taps was played and all stood with hands on hearts or at salute.

"I think it's great that the community can come out and support the nation," said Bryce Barney, 23, a resident of Spanish Fork. Barney has been to many flag retirement ceremonies throughout his life and even participated in the ceremonies as a Scout. He remembers the first time he helped to retire a flag. He and 11 other Boy Scouts went up Payson Canyon at dusk. Each boy wore a white glove on the hand he used to touch the flag. They saluted for at least 10 minutes as the flag burned.

"It taught me a lot about my country," Barney said. He said when flags are burned, the ashes are then buried in the ground and become part of the land just as those who have died fighting for America are now part of the land.

During the ceremony, the Utah Freedom Band played patriotic songs including "Yankee Doodle Dandy" and "The Star-Spangled Banner." The event ended with everyone singing, "God bless America, my home sweet home."

E-Mail: slenz@desnews.com