The hand of 10-year-old Amber Reiner, left, pulls away after releasing an American flag into a fire burning in a barrel during a retirement ceremony at Tuesday’s Flag Day program at Depot Park in Kalispell. The event was hosted by the United Veterans of Flathead Valley along with the Kalispell Elks Lodge and took place in front of the Veterans Memorial. After the posting of flags through American history – from the flag of Great Britain and the Pine Tree Flag to the current 50-star flag – a new, large American flag along with the recognizable black POW flag were raised over the park. Old, tattered and worn American flags were retired according to ceremony and government standards. In 1949, President Harry Truman signed legislation designating June 14 as National Flag Day into law. – Lido Vizzutti/Flathead Beacon