Flag Day

[bt01]

What do you do when "Old Glory" is getting a bit old and losing some of its glory?

[SemperParatus]

Every Memorial (Sun)Day our troop does a flag retirement ceremony on our CO grounds (following mass) as well as a 'prayer garden' of decorated crosses recognizing those veterans for which parishoners and others have requested remembrance. Throughout the year we probably collect 25 flags are so from folks who know we do this.

 

 

[starwolfmom]

One of our Scouts, a boy with autism and mental retardation, for his Eagle project, built a receptacle that is located on the property of a local car wash, where people can deposit their worn-out flags. The troop then collects them and retires them when we go up to Mackinac Island in the summer for our Governor's Honor Guard service. We also retire them at spring and fall camporees.

 

Today, several members of our troop were at the local mall (at their invitation) for a Flag Day presentation. The Scout who built the flag depository spoke about his project (with help from our SPL). The SPL talked about how flags are retired, and also told about the experience of raising and lowering the garrison flag up at the fort on Mackinac Island. And my son (troop ASPL) spoke about our troop's recent service project putting flags on the graves of all the veterans at our local Catholic cemetery on the Friday before Memorial Day. The mall was also handing out small flags to mall patrons in return for a pledge to display the flag on Flag Day and Independence Day.

 

Elizabeth

[OldGreyEagle]

According to Title 36, section 176, of the United States Code: "No disrespect should be shown to the flag of the United States of America;"

 

Paragraph K of this same section, states: "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."

 

[hendrickms24]

Paragraph K of this same section, states: "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."

 

 

Quick question- What if its an all weather flag? Nylon is not good material to burn!

 

Thanks

Mark

[evmori]

When it get tattered, I take Old Glory down, fold her up & take her on the next camping trip to be burned in our campfire.

 

Ed Mori

Troop 1

1 Peter 4:10

[FScouter]

It's been 35 years or so since flags were commonly burned in protests. I remind our boys that we don't "burn" the flag, but we do "retire" it. If it's made of nylon, stand upwind.

[OldGreyEagle]

WHile no method is "official" I think the following method is the best:

 

Tie 5-6 feet of string/cord to the four corners of the flag, whether cotton or nylon. Carry the flag to the fire and have the 4 flag bearers stretch the flag over the fire, the updraft created by the fire will stretch the flag up, have the flag beareres keep a strong grip. At a signal from the MC, the flag is slowly lowered over the flames, the slower the better. As the flag comes down, the updraft gets stronger so the grip on the string has to be tight. Stop lowering the flag just before it would touch the flames and let it hover there. In a few seconds the flag will burst into flames and disintegrate before you eyes. A worn cotton flag almost explodes, a nylon one will last a little longer but all material will be gone before any of it hits the ground. For huge flags such as those flown at courts, I have made a metal rack that sits in the fire and the folded flag is placed in it so no portion of the recognizable flag every touches the ground. I would prefer to retire it stretched to its full size, but a 20 ft fire in any direction gets unwieldly.

[evmori]

I like that OGE. Thanks for sharing!

[Prairie_Scouter]

We use a small ceremony that's been passed down to our troop and pack. We like to have everyone in the ceremony involved, so as we tell the story of the Flag, we cut it into a number of pieces, separating the stripes from each other and from the star field. We cut enough pieces so that everyone can have one, and then distribute them around our campfire. At the appointed time, each person, in turn, drops their piece into the fire. Once completely destroyed and the fire has cooled, we'll recover the grommets and save them.