retiring your flags

A popular way to retire a worn-out American Flag is by burning it. Page 76 of the BSA Handbook says, “A national flag that is worn beyond repair may be burned in a fire. The ceremony should be conducted with dignity and respect and the flag burned completely to ashes.”

At the retirement ceremony, you can cut up your flag using an approved technique that doesn’t cut through the blue star field. When a flag has been cut up, it is no longer officially a flag.

Here is one method:

1. Stretch out the corners of the flag.
2. Cut the flag in half, vertically — do not cut into the blue star field.
3. Place the two halves together and cut in half, horizontally.
4. You will have four pieces of flag, one being the blue star field and the other three red and white stripes.
5. Put the flag in a container and dispose of it properly.

These are two ways to retire a United States Flag. If you are uncomfortable with ever of these methods, we at American Heritage can retire your flag for you. Just bring it in- we are located in Creve Couer off Olive Blvd.