When to Retire a Flag

When a U.S. Flag becomes worn, torn, faded or badly soiled, it’s time to replace it with a new flag. One thing to make clear is that when you’re retiring a flag, you should refer to it as mentioned and not call it burning a flag. It’s retiring a flag, not burning it.

In the video link below, a Boy Scout troop cuts the union out of the flag and retires that section first. There are many different ways to retire a flag, and none are wrong as long as they’re done with respect. A flag ceases to be a flag when it is cut into pieces and we’re of the opinion that the Union should never be broken by cutting individual stars, but that’s up to those conducting the retirement ceremony.

If a flag is cut up stripe by stripe or star by star, do so with a knife or scissors, don’t simply tear it like an old shirt.

There are some organizations that say the names of the 13 original colonies in order as the separated stripes are being incinerated and save the Union for last. Those 13 original colonies in order (in case you forgot) are Delaware, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Georgia, Connecticut, Massachusetts, Maryland, South Carolina, New Hampshire, Virginia, New York, North Carolina and Rhode Island. Others feel that each state is equal and all names should be read. Again it’s totally up to interpretation and each individual ceremony.

Ceremony

A ceremony can be anything from a moment of silence while the flag is incinerated, to a large ordeal that encompasses the pledge of allegiance and some remarks on the flag itself. These can be where it was flown, for how long, any memorable events, etc.

What you wont see in the flag ceremony video below is the flag raising where the pledge of allegiance was said, or the lowering. Remember that you can always bring your old and worn out flags to your local Boy Scout troop who will retire them for you properly.

Please don’t simply throw out your flags. Have some respect for the historical significance and as we mentioned in the last article, only buy flags that are made in the USA!