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Dignified Flag Retirement

Posted on 8/23/14 at 7:34 am
Posted by DLauw
SWLA
Member since Sep 2011
6086 posts
Posted on 8/23/14 at 7:34 am
Anyone do this at your home? What's the proper etiquette? I find it a bit hard to just toss the Stars and Stripes in the fire pit.

I was thinking about doing a ceremony with my kids but I'll probably forego the ceremony and hand it over to the professionals. (Drop it off at American Legion)

OB's thoughts?
Posted by MSWebfoot
Hernando
Member since Oct 2011
3263 posts
Posted on 8/23/14 at 8:18 am to
When I was a kid in Boy Scouts, we held a ceremony or two as our school's flags needed to be replaced. You may check with them or the Girl Scouts.
Posted by NBamaAlum
Soul Patrolville
Member since Jan 2009
27604 posts
Posted on 8/23/14 at 8:20 am to
Touch base with your local VFW.
Posted by Pectus
Internet
Member since Apr 2010
67302 posts
Posted on 8/23/14 at 8:33 am to
Just donate it to the Boy sScouts and they can use it for a ceremony.
Posted by bootlegger
Ponchatoula
Member since Dec 2012
5337 posts
Posted on 8/23/14 at 8:47 am to
Our local American Legion hall has a drop box out front for retiring flags
Posted by ShubutaMS
5682 posts
Member since Aug 2013
1434 posts
Posted on 8/23/14 at 9:07 am to
I've seen drop boxes for old flags at Stine's. Not sure who gets them after though.
Posted by Gaston
Dirty Coast
Member since Aug 2008
39021 posts
Posted on 8/23/14 at 9:21 am to
We have a dedicated flag burning/retirement park in town.
Posted by PillageUrVillage
Mordor
Member since Mar 2011
14792 posts
Posted on 8/23/14 at 9:51 am to
According to the flag code, you're supposed to fold it in its traditional triangle fold, burn it, recite pledge of allegiance, then bury the ashes. If I remember correctly.

I would bring it to your nearest VFW.
This post was edited on 8/23/14 at 9:51 am
Posted by hogdaddy
Krotz Springs
Member since Feb 2010
5153 posts
Posted on 8/23/14 at 11:19 am to
Ceremony of Final Tribute:

Only one flag should be used in the ceremony, which is representative of all the flags to be burned in the service. The remainder of the flags collected should be incinerated. A corporate, government, or military incinerator or furnace can usually be found for this purpose.
The ceremony should be conducted out-of-doors, preferably in conjunction with a campfire program, and it should be very special.
The ceremony involves two color guards, one for the flag currently in use and a special color guard for the flag to be retired from service. Of course, this may be adapted if conditions necessitate.
Just before sunset the flag which has been flying all day is retired in the normal ceremonial procedure for that location or group.
The color guard responsible for the flag receiving the final tribute moves to front and center. The leader should present this color guard with the flag which has been selected for its final tribute and subsequent destruction. The leader should instruct the color guard to "hoist the colors."
Leader comments: (when the flag has been secured at the top of the pole)
"This flag has served its nation well and long. It has worn to a condition in which it should no longer be used to represent the nation."

"This flag represents all of the flags collected and being retired from service today. The honor we show here this evening for this one flag, we are showing for all of the flags, even those not physically here."

The leader should:

Call the group to attention;
Order a salute;
Lead the entire group in the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag; and
Order the flag retired by the color guard.
Slowly and ceremoniously lower and then respectfully fold the flag in the customary triangle. Deliver the flag to the leader and then dismiss the group.
This concludes the Ceremony of Final Tribute
"Ceremonial Burning"

Fire Preparation:

It is important that the fire be sizable -- preferably having burnt down to a bed of red hot coals to avoid bits of the flag being carried off by a roaring fire -- yet be of sufficient intensity to ensure complete burning of the flag.

Flag Preparation:

The color guard assigned to the flag opens up it tri-corner fold and then refolds the flag in a coffin-shaped rectangle.

When all is ready:

Assemble around the fire. The leader calls the group to attention.
The color guard comes forward and places the flag on the fire.
All briskly salute.
After the salute, but while still at attention, the leader should conduct a respectful memorial service as the flag burns. National Flag Foundation recommends singing "God Bless America" followed by an inspiring message of the flag's meaning followed by the "Pledge of Allegiance" and then silence.
When the flag is basically consumed, those assembled, with the exception of the leader and the color guard, should be dismissed single file and depart in silence.
The leader and the color guard remain until the flag is completely consumed.
The fire should then be safely extinguished and the ashes buried.
Posted by DLauw
SWLA
Member since Sep 2011
6086 posts
Posted on 8/23/14 at 11:31 am to
So drop it off. This isn't something to do at home. I may go watch a ceremony. I think the legion and VFW hold them on flag day.

I folded it (video refresher needed) and put it in a drawer for now.
Posted by Ole Geauxt
KnowLa.
Member since Dec 2007
50880 posts
Posted on 8/23/14 at 11:45 am to
good stuff hog daddy.
Posted by Ace Midnight
Between sanity and madness
Member since Dec 2006
89551 posts
Posted on 8/23/14 at 11:56 am to
quote:

I find it a bit hard to just toss the Stars and Stripes in the fire pit.


Cornell Law School's link to the US Code on the Flag

Cliffs:

quote:

The flag, when it is in such condition that it is no longer a fitting emblem for display, should be destroyed in a dignified way, preferably by burning.


In a symbolic gesture, when I was a Boy Scout - we carefully separated the stripes from the field - and then the individual stripes from each other - at that point - it is no longer a flag, but it's component parts. Then burn those pieces.

You can go so far as separating each star from each other - but, most will not take that measure.

I would not "throw it in the fire pit" - I would make sure I had a good, really hot fire roaring first, to make sure it is consumed quickly and completely.
Posted by hogdaddy
Krotz Springs
Member since Feb 2010
5153 posts
Posted on 8/23/14 at 12:02 pm to
The reasoning of disassembling the flag though I have never heard of the cutting up of the stripes , more commonly is the separation of the Union (star field) from the stripes . Most merely remove the Union by cutting the field away. with the union gone you have a red and white striped cloth left and a white stared blue cloth neither being the US flag any longer . That is the purpose of flag disassembly .
This post was edited on 8/23/14 at 12:03 pm
Posted by TheBoo
South to Louisiana
Member since Aug 2012
4516 posts
Posted on 8/23/14 at 12:17 pm to
quote:

Anyone do this at your home? What's the proper etiquette? I find it a bit hard to just toss the Stars and Stripes in the fire pit.


This. Lit a fire with a veteran buddy and he did this since he had one to retire. Just didn't feel right watching the flag burn.

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