Legion member urges proper care of U.S. flags

After this year's Fourth of July celebration, resident and military veteran Liz Roundtree was troubled by the state of U.S. flags that had been turned in for disposal at the American Legion where she's a member.

"After the Fourth of July, finding flags - even just turned in to us that need to be disposed – they're not folded in any way. They're just like, crumpled up and thrown into a bag of some sort," she said.

Roundtree was also concerned about the state of how some flags were kept in storage or on display as she drove around town - even the Legion's own, which she described as "falling apart."

"I already talked to the Legion, we're working on ours," she said, but she saw other flags on display that were just as worn, had fading colors or were flying in inclement weather.

She likewise saw problems with how some American flags were packed away. "We found some that were stored, and they were folded ... but they were stored with stuff that had rusted, so there're stains."

Roundtree praised how the flag was shown at the elementary school. "The school is fabulous at doing theirs," she said. "First thing in the morning, the fifth grade class, they put up the flag. Right before they go home at the end of the day ... they pull the flag down, which is pretty much what you're supposed to do."

In 1923, the U.S. National Flag Code was created to define the decorum for proper care, display and disposal of the flag. Some of the rules of etiquette are: The flag should be allowed to fly freely and not touch the ground, floor, water or anything else below it; the flag should not be dirty, wrinkled or tattered while on display; unless it's an all-weather flag, it should not be flown during bad weather.

In disposing of old flags, they should not be thrown in the trash, according to the code. Instead, it should be destroyed in a dignified manner, preferably by burning.

Roundtree said she understands how some might not be aware of flag-care protocol and may be intimidated by the complexity of the traditional, triangular folding of the American flag. However, she recommended a simpler way. "Fold it like a bedsheet. Don't scrunch it up into a ball and throw it into a bag," she said. "It's just disrespectful for everything it means to the country and to me, that just hurts, personally."

She said the best places in town to drop off flags for proper disposal are the American Legion and the Elks Lodge.

While many state and county government offices and Veterans of Foreign Wars posts across the country have flag disposal boxes outside of their buildings, Roundtree said there currently are none in town. "But that would be a great senior project," she added as a suggestion for any high schoolers who might be interested.

Roundtree said people are welcome to attend the annual celebration held at the Elks Lodge observing the history of the U.S. flag, which usually is on or near June 14, which is Flag Day. During the festivities, the Legion always performs a flag retirement ceremony. "So, come to it, bring your flag," she said. "It's open to anybody."

For more information on the Flag Code, visit the American Legion's webpage about it at https://www.legion.org/flag/code.