If you have an old, tattered American Flag that needs to be retired, you can now take it to a drop box to be retired.

A new flag collection box was unveiled in Walker on Veterans Day, Wednesday, November 11th, 2020.

The City of Walker, American Legion Post 1111, HD5A Design and DeWys Manufacturing partnered to create a drop box, where people can deposit their old flags to be properly retired in the spring.

The box can be found at Sobie Meats at 3450 Remembrance Road NW. There will soon be another drop box located at Walker City Hall.

WOOD TV did a story on the dedication of this new drop box...

There are many other places to drop off an old flag. Many of those locations are at American Legions around the area. You can locate your nearest location here.

As a revered symbol of the United States of America, the flag demands the highest level of respect; and as needs to be disposed of in a respectable manner. If you'd rather retire your American Flag on  your own, these are the steps, in accordance with the United States Flag Code (4 USC Sec 8 Para (k), Amended July 7, 1976).

  1. Build a medium-sized fire in a safe, approved location. The fire will need to have reached a proper size and level of heat so it will fully burn the flag without leaving any remnants of the flag intact.
  2. If the flag is currently flying, respectfully lower the flag and remove it from the pole. Fold the flag in the traditional triangle fold.
  3. Place the folded flag on top of the fire, being careful to not injure yourself. Watch the flag to make sure it is fully incinerated
  4. While the flag is in the process of being burned, observe the flag with respect and reverence.
  5. While the flag is being incinerated, recite the Pledge of Allegiance.
  6. Once the process of burning the flag is complete and no part of the flag remains, safely put the fire out completely.

I never realized that you were to recite the Pledge of Allegiance while burning the flag. How many people even remember the words to the Pledge of Allegiance?

Here is a very interesting breakdown, word by word, of the Pledge of Allegiance from Red Skelton...

 

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