Q: We have an American flag that we would like to have buried. Are there organizations that do that? Years ago, I took one to a Boy Scout troop for that purpose, but I don’t know what to do with this one.
—Jan Apple, Sandy Springs
A: Many Boy Scout units accept worn-out U.S. flags, and "retirement ceremonies are conducted at the local level," a Boy Scouts of America spokeswoman told Q&A on the News in an email.
The national office doesn’t “have a uniform policy or procedure on flag etiquette” but follows U.S. Code when “destroying worn-out flags,” she said.
Paragraph K of the U.S. Flag Code states that an American flag “should be destroyed in a dignified way, preferably by burning,” when it is in a “condition that it is no longer a fitting emblem for display.”
The Veterans of Foreign Wars’ website (vfw.org/flag) provides step-by-step instructions for disposing of an American flag.
Those include:
- Fold the flag in its "customary manner."
- Build a large fire to "ensure complete burning of the flag."
- After the flag is completely burned, bury the ashes.
The VFW also states that those in attendance at the flag burning can “come to attention, salute the flag, recite the Pledge of Allegiance and have a brief period of silent reflection.”
Other local groups, including Girl Scouts (girlscouts.org) and the American Legion (legion.org), sometimes have flag burning ceremonies.
Flags made of nylon can be retired in a ceremony and then sent to companies or organizations that recycle that material, the Boy Scouts of America website (scouting.org) states.
Andy Johnston with Fast Copy News Service wrote this column. Do you have a question? We’ll try to get the answer. Call 404-222-2002 or email q&a@ajc.com (include name, phone and city).
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