Worn, torn and faded flags succumbed to the flames as veterans saluted, watched and even added fuel to the fire.

Patriots located around Wareham and the upper Cape region celebrated Flag Day as well as the U.S. Military’s 250th birthday on Saturday, June 14 at the American Legion Post 220 in Wareham.

Flag Day celebrates the adoption of the American flag and honors veterans who have served. The event included a flag burning ceremony, which is done to retire old American Flags

Veterans who attended celebrated, chatted, and shared war stories amongst themselves as they watched the flags be honorably disposed of.

Commander of Post 220, Ervin “Tootsie” Russell, led the ceremonies, explaining the importance of the holiday and what the event would have in store.

Veteran Don Dastous, of Bourne, described his time serving on the USS Intrepid, an aircraft carrier that has been converted to a museum in New York City.

Veteran Wilfred Provost said he went to the event to represent the Army and wished that more people were educated on the military in general.

“Well, they called me a ‘Mustang’,” he said.

A “Mustang,” in the U.S Military, is slang for an officer that was previously enlisted.

Joe Gracia, Adjutant of Post 220, said that he said he was grateful that it had stopped raining so that the burning of the flags could commence.

“Somebody turned the faucet off,” he said.