How to Retire a Flag Through City Ordinance Rules

Is your flag tattered and weather beaten? It may be time to give your flag a proper send off. It may be time for your flag to retire. After years of duty your flag deserves to go in a dignified ceremony. Check your City's flag disposal ordinance to see where drop off locations are located. Every City will have it's own ordinance and flag drop off rules and locations.

Flags gone bad can be properly disposed of. Check your local library, police station, or fire department for drop off boxes. Flag recycle or disposal boxes makes it easier to give old glory a proper send off. Defined by the Federal Flag Code of 1942, states that flags no longer fit for display should be destroyed in a dignified way. The method preferred for flag retirement is burning.

This method gives citizens a grand outlet to ensure their flag is retired in a rightful way. City, country, and POW ensigns will also be retired through flag box collection incinerators. Flags from collection boxes are collected by: The Department of General Services.

If you have a flag that has done it's time and needs to be retired. Drop it off in one of your local collection boxes.
Every year on June 14th which is Flag Day the flags are burned in an organized ceremony. Last June 14th about 2,000 flags were retired that came from drop off boxes. Nearly 5,000 flags were burned in the City of Chicago.

The flags come from private citizens and business. All flags that needed to be retired from City property is also included. Flags of all sizes are welcome. Hand held on a stick, or large flag pole type. No flag will be refused.

It often is a daunting task as the flags don't go without a fight. Last June 14th the burning dumpster had to be torched then wood thrown in to keep the blaze of honor sizzling. In order to keep it blazing, air holes had to be punched into the metal container.

With all do respect, retire your flag in a proper manner. While it hangs it is considered a living thing. It took all of 5 hours before the flags were reduced to ashes.

After you retire your flag, get another one. Display your flag with pride. Never let a flag touch the ground. If you wish to learn more about flag etiquette and proper disposal, visit: http://www.infoplease.com/spot/flagetiquette1.html or your local City Hall.