As part of this morning's events in recognition of Veterans Day, the Concord Public Ceremonies and Celebrations Committee, with the help of the Concord Fire Department, conducted the town's annual American flag retirement ceremony. 

Local veterans along side Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts, Cubs and Brownies, assisted with the ceremony that took place over three ceremonial fires in Sleepy Hollow Cemetery.

Chairman of the Board of Selectmen Elise Woodward said, "Annually on Veterans Day, the citizens of Concord gather to respectfully retire American flags that are worn and tattered. Theses flags have served the nation well, but are worn to a condition where they are no longer fitting emblems of America — a nation whose ideals are not worn and tattered … In retiring these flags, we honor the ideals the flag represents, and we celebrate the men and women who have defended the flag and continue to defend those ideals."

Remember to check back with Concord Patch first thing Monday morning for full coverage of the town's Veterans Day exercises, including the flag raising ceremony and a salute from the Concord Independent Battery.