Retiring the US Flag

Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share
1

As a long lime lurker, and a recent new poster, I’m asking for your help. I am an assistant Scoutmaster for a Boy Scout Troop on a Maplewood, MN. (a St. Paul suburb) As you hopefully already know, US Code 4 provides for the retirement of worn flags; “in a dignified way, preferable by burning”.

cite: http://uscode.house.gov/DOWNLOAD/04C1.DOC See Sec 8, Statue K.

Next week our troop is holding our quarterly Court of Honor. This is where our Scouts recieve their rank advancements and Merit Badges they have earned. After recently witnessed a proper flag retirement ceremony, we decided that the Scouts of our troop would have a great experience witnessing a proper burning of the US flag. While the US Code does not specify the ceremony for this flag retiring, an unoffical Boy Scout ceremony has evolved over the years:

Five people hold each flag to be retired (four corners and a scissors bearer), The pledge of allegiance is said, a speech regarding the origins of the flag is given, and the blue star field is cut out from the flag. (Leave the blue field intact so that the Union should never be broken). The stripes portion of the flag is placed in the fire and burned. Then, another short speech is given, and “America the Beautiful” is sung. Then, the blue field is burned, and the Scouts are dismissed. Done respectfully, it is an extremely moving ceremony and helps instill a proper respect for the US flag.

Here is where you can help: we are looking for 4 worn US flags (any size) that you wish to be properly retired. If you can help us out, please email me at mailto:dan-pam@mediaone.net . I can arrange to pay for any shipping costs.

I guess as a thread starter, I could pose as “Ask a Flag Waver”, so if you do have any questions regarding proper flag etiquette, post away. Believe it or not, but a room full of adult Scout leaders spent almost 2 hours discussing various issues, so I guess questions must lurk out there…

2

I don’t have a flag to offer, but I do have a suggestion. As a former Boy Scout (First Class, I wasn’t that ambitious) I often see flags being flown that are in a deplorable condition; stained, fade, torn, that rightly should be retired. In the wake of the WTC this is especially evident. Perhaps you could (tactfully) approach the owners of said flags, and explain that they should be retired. Perhaps you could even volunteer to replace them.

Anyway, goodluck.

3

Suggestion: Contact your Congress person or Senator and explain your situation. I understand they obtain flags for constituents, so I think they could check for flags to be retired, too.