How to respectfully retire tattered American Flags
Often, when we discuss proper disposal of items, we are referring to items we don’t know how to handle or recycle, like chemicals, old appliances or computers. But, today we are going to discuss something that should never be recycled or placed in a bin, the American flag. Just as there are certain protocol to handling and displaying the flag, there is also protocol to its disposal. While many enjoy flying their American flag from their home or raised on a flag pole, there comes a point where a flag is no longer fit to fly, and should be retired out of respect.
How do I know when I should retire my flag?
When the United States flag becomes worn, torn, faded or badly soiled, it is time to replace it with a new flag, and the old one should be "retired" with dignity and respect. The traditional method of retirement is to incinerate or bury the flag, but this does not mean that one should simply drop the entire flag into a fire, or bury it in the ground.
What is the proper way to retire a flag?
The proper way to dispose of a flag is to burn it or bury it. The idea behind this method of disposal is to show respect for the flag and for all those who have served under it. Disposing of the flag in the same manner we would a body, with dignity and respect, rather than disposing of it in the trash.
Traditionally the flag is either folded or in some cases cut into four pieces before it is incinerated. When it is cut, the blue field remains as one piece, so as not to separate the thirteen stars that represent the thirteen original colonies. When a flag is disposed of in ceremony, The American flag must be folded 13 times out of respect for the 13 colonies, and each fold has a meaning, including life, weakness, honor, death and religion.
Where can I dispose my flag locally and respectfully?
If you have a flag that needs to be retired, you can do so locally by dropping the flag off at the American Legion Post 246 building in Moline. For more information on how and where to properly dispose of your American Flag locally, disposing of your unserviceable American flags, visit the Illinois State Website, Flag Honors, or visit the American Legion Flag Notification Web site.
At Millennium Waste we are thankful to all of them men and women who have and currently serve our country. For more information about Millennium Waste and our services, explore our website and contact us today!
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