We have an old friend here who has fulfilled his duty to our country. We shouldn't be sad about the retirement of our friend. We are not burning him in anger, our friend can continue to serve in our thoughts. Narrator pauses for a few seconds. Would all the veterans in the audience please come down and form a line behind the flag.
Veterans come and stand behind the flag retirement crew.
The crew member with the 13th stripe steps out from the line, walks reverently to the fire, places the stripe on the fire and salutes it. He then returns to his spot in line. The crew members all follow suit in the same order which will result in the blue field being the last section placed on the fire, each crew member saluting as he places his section on the fire. As the last crew member, with the blue field, places his section on the fire, the Narrator calls the entire assembly to salute. As the last section, the blue field, is placed on the fire, taps is played and the salute continues for the duration.