How Do You Dispose of an American Flag?

Updated on October 10, 2009
B.S. asks from Tampa, FL
26 answers

Our outdoor flag is literally crumbling and I'm not sure if I can just toss it in the trash. I know it's not even supposed to touch the ground...or am I being ridiculous?

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So What Happened?

Thank you all so much for your advice. I will be contacting the proper association so they can handle it properly.

Featured Answers

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T.M.

answers from Orlando on

The Boy Scouts will take it, as will any group of retired veterans (VFW, American Foreign Legion, etc.)

Bless you for behaving the way we all should.

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C.C.

answers from Lakeland on

Please do not think you are being ridiculous. I believe it is called RESPECT. PLEASE DO NOT just throw it in the trash.

More Answers

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R.T.

answers from Orlando on

You can contact the American Legion and they will take it from you. You are allowed to respectfully burn the torn or faded flag on a grill. You are free to do as you wish with the ashes.

1 mom found this helpful
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J.D.

answers from Tampa on

Dear B.,
What a nice surprise that you have asked. I am a military wife and raised in a very patriotic family. Do not EVER throw an American flag away....take it to the nearest American Legion or VFW Post and they have a ceremony for them a couple of times a year... when they burn them. They are always happy to receive them for proper disposal. Our flag represents the blood of our Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen, Marines, and Coast Guard that have given the ultimate sacrifice for this great nation. No you are not ridiculous!
Thank You for taking the time to ask and now be able to teach your children about the proper disposal as well!
Respectfully,
J. D

1 mom found this helpful
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T.F.

answers from Tampa on

Sorry this is late but if you go to any american legion they will dispose of the flag. Our legion even has a an old mailbox in front so you can put it in there

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D.G.

answers from Boca Raton on

Im not sure what the official way is for a patriot, but you can dispose of in any way you want. We live in America, you can burn the flag if you want.

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K.D.

answers from Jacksonville on

Give it to your local Girl Scouts, Boy Scouts, or 4-H group. They can use it for a flag burning ceremony.

I remember participating in flag burning ceremonies when I was in Girl Scouts and 4-H. It is very meaningful and patriotic.

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K.T.

answers from Tampa on

The Boy Scouts will take it too and properly dispose of it. Wasn't sure if that was mentioned, but aside from American Legion organizations, they will take it too. There are certain ceremonial procedures in the burning of it -- you remove certain parts, fold it a certain way (something like that). I think it's great that you want to be respectful! Not ridiculous at all!

K.

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J.G.

answers from Orlando on

B., I'm so proud to hear that you have respect for our flag and country. Thanks for posting this and bringing it to the attention of others!

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S.H.

answers from Tampa on

Thank you for honoring our flag.
Patriotism is never ridiculous!
According to the US Flag Code: the flag "should be destroyed in a dignified way, preferably by burning." I remembered this from Girl Scouts. You need to check the rules for burning in your community.
Another choice, from the "us flag site" is to give it to your local American Legion Post.
S. H.

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K.B.

answers from Orlando on

Your local American Legion or VFW post should be able to dispose of it properly for you. You're not being ridiculous! You're being respectful- something many Americans are sadly not anymore. Thank you for honoring our country's flag!

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M.B.

answers from Tampa on

You could also contact your local Boy Scout Troop...they teach the kids how to do that and it is a great learning experience for them.

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S.S.

answers from Miami on

You are supposed to burn it.

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K.M.

answers from Tampa on

You are being wonderful.
I think the library can tell you the correct way.
Very well done, k

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R.W.

answers from Tampa on

Your supposed to burn it. Take it to the local VFW, Eagles, Elks, Moose club. Any of them will dispose of it properly for you and be glad to do it.

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K.O.

answers from Miami on

B., It'sso nice tohear someone that still remembers there are proper was of respecting the flag. It's saddening to see the way some people and businesses let their flags get. The advice of those is correct. Contact one of the many veterans organizations and they will help you dispose of you flag propperly. As a veteran myself I thankyou for your respect and love of country.
K.

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H.B.

answers from Orlando on

Contact your local boy scout office. Alot of the troops have flag retirement ceremonies and if you will get your flag to them they the will take care of it for you.

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R.H.

answers from Tampa on

I copied and pasted the answer to your question below.

Question:

I recently took a Flag Etiquette Quiz at another site. One of the questions concerned proper disposal of the American flag. The question was "How should you dispose of a U.S. flag that's beyond repair?"
Options were 1) Burn it 2) Shred it 3) Give it to your local government or American Legion Post to dispose of

The quiz gave the correct answer as "You should give a flag that's beyond repair to your local government or American Legion Post to dispose of." But my local government would not accept our old flag. What should I do to dispose of an old flag?

USA Flag Site Answer:

Their answer came from an incorrect interpretation of this sentence at the Federal Citizen Information Center of the U.S. General Services Administration (the GSA):

"American Legion Posts and local governments often have facilities to dispose of unserviceable flags."

While that statement is true, it's also true that they often have neither the facilities nor the knowledge. Furthermore, many municipalities have contacted USA Flag Site for what they should do with unserviceable flags. The only definitive answer is found in the US Flag Code. TITLE 4 > CHAPTER 1 > Sec. 8(k). It states:

"The flag, when it is in such condition that it is no longer a fitting emblem for display, should be destroyed in a dignified way, preferably by burning"

You can find a good copy of the entire US Flag Code at the Legal Information Institute, Cornell Law School
USA Flag Site provides the high points of American Flag etiquette in a more user friendly format on our Flag Etiquette page.

While we simply cannot respond personally to every inquiry, we'll try to add the most common questions and answers here. If you have suggestions, comments or questions for us, we'd appreciate your dropping us a note by clicking here.

If you'd like to spread the word and help others find USA Flag Site, you can link to us from your web site.

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J.C.

answers from Tampa on

my advise is to take it to any AMERICAN LEGION OR VFW POST.they have proper flag disposal burning ceremonies. it is a nice thing to witness. GOOD LUCK AND GOD BLESS US ALL
J.

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K.R.

answers from San Juan on

You should NOT throw it in the trash. Even though it is in bad condition, it still should be disposed of properly. Contact your local American Legion Hall. They should be able to dispose of it for you or direct you to a place where you can. Thank you for asking...it is not ridiculous!! You are doing to the right thing!

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S.D.

answers from Miami on

You can drop it off at one of the VFW Halls. They will dispose of them properly. My parents in Texas have taken their worn flags there for years. I'm not sure about all of them but the one in Pompano Beach has a dropped box outside for flags.

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S.S.

answers from Pensacola on

You can contact the Boy Scouts of America, they dispose of them properly.

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M.F.

answers from Daytona Beach on

Find your nearest Boy Scout troop or American Legion as they often have retiring ceremonies where the flag is burned in proper form.

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S.M.

answers from Miami on

Hi, B.. You're not being ridiculous at all. The approved way of disposing of an American flag is by burning it (as in cremation), but I'm not sure if there's a proper way to do it. Try googling "disposing of American flag," and there may be some agency or organization that does it for you.

Peace,
Syl

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J.J.

answers from Orlando on

It is considered direspectful to throw the flag in the trash. The "proper" way to dipose of it is to burn it. If you don't want to do it yourself, you can take it to your local fire department and they do burns for flags on a regular basis.

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K.B.

answers from Tampa on

I think the post office will take it. Lots of people have mentioned Boy Scouts. Not sure where you live, but there is a Boy Scout Store and Gulf Ridge headquarters off I-275 in Tampa between Fletcher and Fowler (it faces the interstate). It's a little tricky to get to so I would call them for directors.

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