Torn American flag
What to do? We have had some really high winds here this winter which has shredded my flag. How do you properly dispose of the torn one. I have considered leaving it up as for me it represents the hard times and wars we are having showing we are still here and will not give up. We will go on. Or am I not being respectful leaving it up. Thanks for any imput you can give me
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Contact a local Boy Scout troop. Our troop has Flag Retirement Ceremonies. Some Veterans Associations also collect them for proper disposal.
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Or contact a VFW. Or American Legion.
sandy |
here is a link to flag etiquette http://www.usflag.org/flagetiquette.html
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thanks everyone. we do have an American Legion within a couple miles from me. I will contact them.
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You can also try contacting you local Elks organization. I know one local to us also does flag retirement ceremonies. Without reading QuiltnNan's link, my belief was always proper burial or respectful burning was appropriate disposal.
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My DH is a Vietnam veteran, and he has always burned our ragged flags. We live in the county, so it is legal for us to burn at certain times of the year.
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There is nothing that burns my butt more than seeing a torn American flag flying. I've contacted auto dealers before that kept flying a torn flag, and asked that they replace their flags as a sign of respect....each place replaced the flag in question. Sorry, this is just me.
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DH put up a flag pole in our front drive. He replaces the big flag once a year. I think he buries the old ones.
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*** The flag should NEVER touch the ground & should be BURNED. *** *** |
I also feel that the flag should be treated with respect and should be burned when tattered and torn. But the fact is that there are no laws concerning the flag. There is only a list of recommendations for flag etiquette. How many of you wear a flag or use fabric with flags on it? That also violates flag etiquette. Do what you feel is not disrespectful.
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The American Legion collects torn flags, and once a year they hold a ceremony to properly dispose of those flags.
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Yes, I would contact your local Boy Scout troop. They have the proper ceremony for a torn flag.
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What ever you do, DO NOT put it in the trash. Take it to groups that were mention before. If you do not have one near you save it and put a notice at the supermarket and I bet you someone would have contact with a group that will dispose of the Flag for us.
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Originally Posted by Sandygirl
(Post 7433057)
Or contact a VFW. Or American Legion.
sandy |
The library branch I recently retired from had three worn flags in the storage room. We called the American Legion and left several messages but no one ever called us back. A couple of months later a young one came in dressed in his Boy Scout uniform. I asked if his troop retired old flags and explained we had three that needed retiring. His face lit up and he broke into a huge grin! He proudly headed out the door with mom and the flags. A couple of weeks later we got a wonderful note from the troop leader thanking us for allowing them to perform a this service for the library. You can go online and locate a troop near you.
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Originally Posted by lindaschipper
(Post 7433382)
There is nothing that burns my butt more than seeing a torn American flag flying. I've contacted auto dealers before that kept flying a torn flag, and asked that they replace their flags as a sign of respect....each place replaced the flag in question. Sorry, this is just me.
I am grateful to those here that DO take care of our flag. Thank you. |
The flag should NEVER touch the ground & should be BURNED. There are several ways to respectfully dispose of the flag. There is no only right way. And yes the flag can touch the ground but cannot be thrown on the ground or carelessly handled to drag on the ground. |
I was lucky enough to be gifted a weathered flag that used to fly over a local hospital. It is HUGE! And the heavy winds played havoc on the French seams. I was able to repair it and now hang it from the gutters of our home for the Fourth of July! My neighbors love it!
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This is what we do. We have retired 2 by taking them to the VFW.
Originally Posted by toverly
(Post 7433051)
Contact a local Boy Scout troop. Our troop has Flag Retirement Ceremonies. Some Veterans Associations also collect them for proper disposal.
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Originally Posted by lindaschipper
(Post 7433382)
There is nothing that burns my butt more than seeing a torn American flag flying. I've contacted auto dealers before that kept flying a torn flag, and asked that they replace their flags as a sign of respect....each place replaced the flag in question. Sorry, this is just me.
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Thank you for letting us know about the Boy Scouts and the VFW being able to do an honorable 'retirement' of the American Flag. I never thought about those organizations being able to do so. I'd rather them to that than to burn the flag at home.
And my DH and I are also ones that get upset when we see the ragged flags flying. |
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