It was a Flag Day to remember for reasons I did not realize when my husband and I ventured out to Mayer, AZ on the morning of June 14, 2025. It was a temperate and not so windy Saturday and the people who gathered at the Foothills Ranch were glad for it. A huge American flag was raised in honor of many things: the U.S. Army’s 250th birthday, Flag Day, and a Missing Rider tribute to a fellow American who spearheaded this event in prior years.

A poignant flag retirement ceremony was held thanks to the dedication and hard work of Foothills Ranch owners Wes and Phyllis Holmes. Numerous organizations also contributed to the effort by volunteering and donations, including local Boy Scout Troops, American Legion Posts and family chapters from Prescott, Cottonwood, Chino Valley, and Humboldt, the Ernest A. Love Post 6 Honor Guard, American Legion Riders and local businesses (see below for more details on that part of the story).

A tall white sign with the title What The Flag Means to Us shared what U.S. Stars and Stripes represented to hosts for the day’s event.  Wes Holmes stated, “ I believe it is sacred and should be treated with respect. This is why we host the retirement ceremony- to ensure these flags receive the honor they deserve.”

The event was powerful and impactful with many moving words, prayers, symbols, and traditions.

What started two years ago with two friends, Mark Meridith and Wes Holmes has grown to a large and amazing event. 

Why hold such an event?

1. Respect for the symbol of our nation.  Respect for the memory of our family and friends who have passed.  
2. Honor for those who have served and sacrificed for their country.

Yavapai County is home to many military veterans and patriotic residents, resulting in a significant number of flags that require proper disposal each year. According to the U.S. Flag Code, a worn-out flag should not be placed in a landfill and is recommended to be destroyed in a dignified manner, preferably by burning.

What I didn’t know while I was enjoying and appreciating the Flag Day ceremony at Foothills Ranch that day was just how much work, time, sweat, and effort went into it.  Being there in person you could feel how much emotion and passion were poured into the proceedings.

Seeing a beautiful horse named Cash being led out by Phyllis was a touching Missing Rider Tribute to Mark Merdith who passed away six months prior.  Wes gave a heartfelt announcement to those gathered that morning for the ceremony about his friend who was a driving force for the special Flag Day event and asked for a moment of silence.  It was a moving and powerful moment I will never forget.

The American Legion Post 6 Honor Guard played a pivotal role in the Flag Day traditions. Their flag folding ceremony, gun salutes, and sounding of taps presented honor and respect to our nation’s flag as well those who sacrificed their lives for it.

The other striking and impressive element of Flag Day 2025 was the large, rusty brown incinerator with its five 9ft chimney stove pipes.  Prior to the flag retirement ceremony, the five hand-welded doors of the converted oil tanker were flung open to reveal over 3,000 flags stacked high.

The events leading up to the creation of the incinerator is a story of collaboration, persistence, and generosity.   Plato’s words “Necessity is the Mother of Invention” came to mind when Wes recounted the genesis of the old 33ft railroad tanker car.  There were two main reasons why Wes envisioned the need for an enclosed structure to ignite the flags- the wind and the large number of flags needing disposal (the 2024 flag retirement in a small, open burn pit had to be cancelled due to high winds).

Two weeks prior to the event on 6/14/25, Wes made a call to the Director of the Post 6 American Legion Riders (ALR) stating that if they didn’t get the funds to purchase the oil tanker then the Flag Retirement ceremony would need to be cancelled.  That is when Sandra Tavares, ALR Director in Prescott sprang into action and worked with the Commander and other family chapters of the Ernest A. Love Legion post to pull together the donations needed for Wes to acquire the oil tanker he found on Facebook Market place.  Now he had to drive his truck and trailer to over 375 miles to St George, Utah to pick the 13,000 lb steel metal tank.  It was a harrowing trip back as the length and weight of the tank upset the balance of the trailer.

Once Wes got back to Arizona, multiple local businesses donated steel, stove pipes, welding supplies as teams of welders and other craftsmen provided many hours of skilled labor to rapidly build the incinerator just in time for the big event.

The following businesses and organizations donated money, supplies and time to the make Flag Day 2025 in Mayer, Arizona a reality.

• Lamb Chevrolet
• Mayer Fire Department
• Ernest A. Love Post 6 Honor Guard- Dan Tillmans, Sherm Scott, Rich Fuller, Joe Gorraiz, Peggy Schmidt, Rich Tuten, Neal Goforth, Dirk Thayer, and Bugler Dede Dexter from Post 25.
• Ernest A. Love American Legion Post 6 with ALR, Auxiliary, and Sons of the American Legion
• American Legion District 8
• RBS Fab LLC
• Superior Industries
• Yavapai Steel
• Bill Roberts
• Tom Lowe
• Jeff Smith
• Stewart Phelan
• Yavapai Bottle Gas
• Ron Lipps
• Ryan Richard – RR Welding Services
• Dave Smithwick, https://davethedroneguy.com
• Boy Scout Troop 303

The Flag Day 2025 event was a passionate and patriotic experience with prayers, the raising of a large 50×30 ft American Flag, cannon blasts, honor guard services, singing of our National Anthem, Missing Rider tribute, U.S. Flag Retirement ceremony, and the emotional sounding of taps.  

After the ceremony, attendees enjoyed a BBQ brisket meal compliments of  Phyllis Holmes and American Legion Post 6 family chapters.

Thank you to everyone who contributed, supported and attended this meaningful holiday service.  

The honor, respect, and heartfelt tributes made it a Flag Day to remember!