The Color Guard of the American Legion came to Langley Thursday morning to replace a faded Old Glory with a new flag in front of the Langley Chamber of Commerce office and gave citizens and chamber members an early taste of what Memorial Day is all about.

“I do this not only to honor those who have died, but also those alive,” said Jim Cooley, Sons of the American Legion commander.

Cooley and his fellow guard members put on their Color Guard uniforms and march proudly in parades and serve at funerals, holiday and flag ceremonies to preserve the awareness of what veterans have fought for, he said.

“It gives you a sense of pride,” Cooley said.

Cooley comes from a family with a history of military service.

Cooley himself served in the Army. He spent much of his childhood in Germany, where his family was stationed during his father’s time in the military.

Melody Bryant, auxiliary president, said she honors friends and family members who served in the military through her service in the guard.

She lost a cousin in Iraq two years ago and her sister is still serving in the Army. She joined the Color Guard after her brother, who was in the Army, was killed in a car accident.

At his funeral, held with full military honors, she recalled being startled by the shots from the 21-gun salute.

“I was shaking,” she recalled. Later she decided to become part of the group which serves during such functions.

“It’s an honor to do the memorial services,” Bryant said.

Cooley said the proper farewell for military members gives relatives a sense of closure and is one of the most rewarding parts of his duty.

“Relatives are really moved by our official send-off with the ceremony,” he said.

For the Color Guard members, the service to the community is inspired by their gratitude for those who protected the United States with their lives — past and present.

“I do this because I was never fortunate to serve in combat, but I have the upmost respect for those who fought for this great country,” said Michael Cooley, Sons of the American Legion first vice commander.

Respect for the sacrifices made in current conflicts is what drives John Tobias, the group’s sergeant-at-arms.

“I do it to honor the current veterans. It’s my thing to give from a Cold War veteran to the current veterans,” Tobias said.

During the ceremony Thursday in downtown Langley, the four members of the American Legion Color Guard lowered a well-worn Old Glory as onlookers silently watched. Then they raised a new Stars and Stripes and carefully folded and retired the old, faded flag. Three volleys of shots were fired.

Michael Cooley read a prayer for the country’s current veterans serving in war and peaceful missions abroad.

The decision to organize a formal Color Guard here on South Whidbey came about 10 years ago when Jim Cooley saw how people were pulled together randomly to serve as the Color Guard at veteran funerals around the island. Often, uniforms were not available.

“I felt that was not the proper way to do this,” he said.

The group has been up and running for five years now. Members of the American Legion, the Son’s of the American Legion and the American Legion Auxiliary make up the group, Cooley said.

The flag from the chamber office will be burned along with other retired flags in a ceremony at the American Legion Post on June 14, Flag Day.

Island County Commissioner Mike Shelton, who lead those assembled for the ceremony in the Pledge of Allegiance, said the Langley Chamber of Commerce could not have picked a better time of the year to replace the flag.

Nancy Rowan, executive director of the Langley chamber of commerce, organized the event.

The chamber was in need of a new flag and they saw a perfect opportunity to make people think about what the flag stands for and how to demonstrate the proper respect for all it represents, Rowan explained.

“It’s Memorial Day weekend. It’s not called BBQ day for a reason,” she said.

“Memorial Day began as Decoration Day at the end of the Civil War when the need to remember and acknowledge those who had made the ultimate sacrifice was part of the healing process.

“To many of us, the weekend has come to signal the start of the summer, but more importantly, it is a time to honor all those who have died in service to our country so that we may enjoy the many blessings we all share living in the United States,” Rowan said.

Rowan was glad to have the American Legion Color Guard present the colors at the event.

“They agreed to teach us how to properly retire the old flag and raise the new one,” she said.

A new American flag was donated by Langley resident Don Rowan of Morgan Stanley. A new Washington state flag, which previously flew over the state capitol, was send by Sen. Mary Margaret Haugen.

Citizens who need to retire their own flag can contact the American Legion. They will come and pick up the old flag. People can also drop it off at the post on Highway 525 in Bayview.

The American Legion promotes community service and patriotism, and also provides aid to veterans and their families.

On South Whidbey, the American Legion has raised $10,000 for scholarships in recent years and helped needy families through their heating assistance program.