The house I bought last summer came complete with flag pole and flag. I’m ashamed to admit that I left Old Glory out all late summer/fall and winter. I noticed recently that it’s tattered along the edge and took it down today. I got it properly folded (from what I remember from Girl Scouts) and it’s inside, but now what? I seem to recall that some organizations will take them and dispose of them. Any suggestions?
Be certain to replace it with a new one. It’s an important symbol of everything that is good and still needs improvement in our country, our future and ourselves. I certainly respect your sense of reverence for this symbol. Very kind of you.
Oh, great, flag guilt. I was going to replace it with a Washington State University flag; Go Cougs!
Maybe I’ll get another American one as well, but isn’t it supposed to be spotlighted if I don’t take it down at night? I don’t have a spotlight and I’m too lazy to put it up and take it down every day. It’s very hard to fold it properly solo.
Oh, great, flag guilt. I was going to replace it with a Washington State University flag; Go Cougs!
Maybe I’ll get another American one as well, but isn’t it supposed to be spotlighted if I don’t take it down at night? I don’t have a spotlight and I’m too lazy to put it up and take it down every day. It’s very hard to fold it properly solo.
Yes, if it’s up at night, it should be lit.
Flag etiquette is easy to find online but few know much about it. We had neighbors across the street who used a flag to make a canopy over their front door to shield themsevles from rain. It became tattered and fell down, laying on the ground near the shrubs, ripped apart and soiled. The man thought he was a real patriot for putting it up, I am sure.
Oh, great, flag guilt. I was going to replace it with a Washington State University flag; Go Cougs!
Maybe I’ll get another American one as well, but isn’t it supposed to be spotlighted if I don’t take it down at night? I don’t have a spotlight and I’m too lazy to put it up and take it down every day. It’s very hard to fold it properly solo.
The enormous flag pole in my yard was a huge selling point for me. It was installed during WWI, shortly after the house was built. First thing I did after moving in was buy a large all-weather flag and a spotlight. I have sunlights in my upstairs restroom. I love walking in at night and seeing the illuminated flag flying tall!
Here is a link to flag etiquette, if you are interested.
Donate it to a local Boy Scout Troop or take it by the local Boy Scout office. They teach boys flag etiquette and disposal for either one of their merit badges or advancement awards. They will appreciate you letting them have it.
Burn it.
Funny isnt it. The proper disposal of an old flag is to burn it, yet some politicians want to make it Illegal to burn the flag.
Our local firehouse has a re-purposed USPS mailbox out front that is designated for U.S. flag ‘retirement’ only. If you don’t have a similar thing nearby, contact the local Boy Scout troop.
I think it might have something to do with the manner (and the intent with which) the flag is burned?
/
Yes this has always befuddled me as well. You burn flags to dispose of them, but we want to outlaw burning flags based on “intent”. Kinda hard to prove intent that’s why we have laws like “Assault with a deadly weapon” instead of “Attempted murder”.
~Matt
I’ve no claim to legal expertise so have no ability to offer a precise legal definition. but as the average man on the street i think i can rightfully infer the difference between a Boy Scout attempting to burn the US Flag in a reverential manner; and someone in Berkley burning the US Flag amidst the “we hate the USA” cause de jure
/r
My gods cover the issue of flag burning beautifully.
but as the average man on the street i think i can rightfully infer the difference between a Boy Scout attempting to burn the US Flag in a reverential manner; and someone in Berkley burning the US Flag amidst the “we hate the USA” cause de jure
Yes and an average man I would suspect that you as an average man would be able to tell the difference between “Bang I shot you because I’m angry at you” or “Whoops the gun went off and you died”…but those types of things are very hard to prove in court.
~Matt
Look up ‘solar flood light’ or ‘solar spot light’ on the web, or go to Home Depot. Just stake it in the ground and you’re off, instant all night light.
Scott
I’ve no claim to legal expertise so have no ability to offer a precise legal definition. but as the average man on the street i think i can rightfully infer the difference between a Boy Scout attempting to burn the US Flag in a reverential manner; and someone in Berkley burning the US Flag amidst the “we hate the USA” cause de jure
/r
I agree. I don’t have any problem differentiating the two actions either. But then, I was taught right from wrong at an early age…
There is certainly a differentiation between the two acts. Here is a procedure used by the Boy Scouts in a “flag retirement” (not flag burning") ceremony.
http://www.usscouts.org/ceremony/flagret1.asp
The blue field is cut out, and then the rest of the flag is cut up before it is burned. Therefore, when it is burned, it is no longer “the flag.” Our local Boy Scout Council has a flag retirement ceremony annually, to coincide with Flag Day. The ceremony is held at a National Cemetery. The Scouts all wear white gloves and treat the flags with solemn respect during the process. When the flags are reduced to ashes, the ashes are buried on the cemetery grounds, or buried at sea by a Navy or Coast Guard ship.
If you can rig your cable with two sets of flag attachments, you can run your Wash State flag up underneath Old Glory and fly them both. As long as the stars & stripes are on top, I’m pretty sure that’s kosher.
Of course you can always fly the Texas flag even with the US flag. Just sayin’.
I took it to the local Boy Scout’s office today. The woman knew exactly what I was after when she saw me walk in with it.
I feel like a good American now. 
I feel like a good American now.
Good for you!
If you ever get the chance to go to a flag retirement ceremony, take it. You will remember it for a long time.
Former Eagle Scout, Tri N OC