Where can I find statistics on how common (or uncommon) flag burning is in the United States? I’ve been looking on Google for a while and haven’t found anything.
It’s doubtful you can find any statistics but good luck. It isn’t like anyone is obligated to report such activity. Keep in mind too that the proper way to dispose of a flag is to burn it but I’m guessing you mean burning flags in protest as opposed to doing it out of respect.
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How exactly does one go about disposing of a flag by burning? I have two concerns, one is respect, the other is the neighbors. For the first, I would assume that throwing Old Glory onto the Weber isn’t giving it the respect due, so how would it be done? As to the second, my neighbors can see into my backyard, and I wouldn’t want them to think I’m some Iraqi insurrection leader or some such. Any advice on how to make it clear this is disposing of an excessively worn flag as opposed to protest?
This is more than just hypothetical, as the flag in front of the house has seen better days, and I’m looking to replace it.
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Give your old flag to local Boy Scouts. They go through a big ceremony and dispose of it properly. Plus, I think that it counts as a project toward some of their badges.
Ender_Will: If I remember correctly, a ceremonial burning is the only proper way to dispose of an Old Glory that is too worn to fly any longer.
The procedure, as I remember it, is to take the Flag, fold the Flag properly, and soak the Flag in a flammable fluid. Then you place the Flag in a fire in which the Flag will be consumed completely.
Check with a veterans organization, such as the VFW. Many of them will dispose of the flag in the proper manner.
Thanks guys, especially The MacDairmuid. It seems to me like kind of a cop-out to give to someone else to take care of. Almost as though I was relegating it to the level of trash. Not to imply that Boy Scouts or VFW are garbage men, though.
There are a large number of different ceremonies used for flag disposal. I suspect that the issue is more a matter of the intent and general tone of the ceremony, than of the particular steps taken.
So far as I know, by the way, participating in a flag-disposal ceremony is not a requirement for any Boy Scout badge or rank. I’m not familiar with all of the merit badges, but I know it’s not a requirement for Citizenship in the Nation, which would be the most logical place for such a requirement. Knowledge of certain parts of flag etiquette is a rank requirement, but that doesn’t cover disposal, and also does not require a demonstration.