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Do You Need to Do a Flag Check?
11/17/08 - 03:29 PM
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Jerry Brown - bio

Bay County, Fla:

On Veterans Day last Tuesday… Bay county citizens joined other Americans in saluting those who serve our country in uniform.  Part of that patriotism involves flying our nation’s flag in the right manner.  But, a couple of residents say some of the flags they have seen in the area are in bad shape and need to be replaced.  So, they brought their concerns to News 13 in this on your side Problem Solver report.

The Stars and Stripes…our United States flag is beautiful and means so much for our country.  But, time and the weather can fade and tear flags that are flown outside.  Some Bay County residents tell News 13 they want everyone to do a flag check.  They wonder, why would anyone continue to fly “old glory” in such bad shape?  Kristen Lofu-Magwood says, “To me it looks like people may not be aware of it…It kind of makes me sad to see that the flag is being flown that way… because of the history behind it.” And, Amanda Bell expresses concern over torn and faded flags, “It is not nice to see it, considering what the American flag represents.  I think a lot of people put up the flag when they are feeling patriotic and then tend to forget about it.”

So, let’s say you replace your tattered flag with a brand new one. But, you still have your worn out flag. And you want to dispose of it properly.  What can you do?  Well, the American legion can help you out.

David Miller is Vice Commander of American Legion Post 356 in Lynn Haven.  Miller says, “We actually store the old flags out in our shed and then on Flag Day every year, we have the Lynn Haven Fire Department come down and we have a huge flag ceremony out here in the parking lot.” Miller says the flags are inspected by officers then burned and the ashes disposed of in the proper manner.”

If you are not sure about proper flag etiquette, usflag-dot-org is one helpful source.  The site contains complete information on Standards of Respect for the flag, Displaying the Flag Outside and Inside, and other guidelines to follow.

How does David Miller, a retired Air Force veteran, feel when he sees a tattered and faded U.S. flag?  He says, “I have been known to stop at the people’s houses if they are home...knock on their doors and say, ‘you know, you really need to replace that...really doesn’t look good.’ That flag has went thru a lot...I mean a lot...just look at what we are going thru now.”

I did some checking and learned most all American Legion posts, Amvets, Fleet Reserve on the beach and VFW posts in Bay County will accept your worn out flags.  And, by the way, local scout troops help out as well with the flag disposal ceremony.

Learn more about flag etiquette at Http://www.usflag.org/flagetiquette.html

This entry has been viewed 1132 times.

User Comments

It is interesting the Flag person in charge of proper disposal is wearing a shirt with a flag for a coller. While our casual society looks the other way, a flag or anthing resembling a flag is not to be worn on clothing, even by a well meaning flag lover. Our flag is not casual.

The U.S. Flag Code, section 4-(d) states: “The flag should never be used as wearing apparel, bedding, or drapery....”

Some would say his shirt would have to be properly disposed of when worn out.

Posted by bblessed  on  11/17  at  10:30 PM
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