How do you dispose of an American flag at home?

How To Properly Dispose of your American Flag
  1. Donate Tattered Flags. Donating is a great American flag disposal technique. ...
  2. Burning. The US Flag Code states that if the flag is not in good enough condition to represent our country, it should be taken down and destroyed. ...
  3. Flag Burial. ...
  4. Shredding.


How do you dispose of an American flag without burning it?

You should fold the flag in the ceremonial triangle, place in a strong wooden box, and bury a few feet in the ground. Similar to burning the flag, make sure to handle it with care and consider its meaning as you bury it. Once you've successfully retired your old flag, go out and buy a new one!

Is it OK to throw an American flag away?

No, It's Not Illegal to Throw Away the American Flag

Unless it's heavily soiled or damaged, you should keep it. The only time you should dispose of your American flag is when it's heavily soiled or damaged. In instances such as these, the American flag is no longer in a condition to display.


Can I dispose of an American flag at Home Depot?

Donating your US flag to a Home Depot flag disposal box is the simplest flag disposal technique. To make it easier we have created a map below showing “American flag disposal Home Depot near me” where you will see a list of local Home Depot drop-off centers and depository boxes.

Where can I drop off old American flags near me?

Many state and county government offices and Veterans of Foreign Wars posts have flag disposal boxes outside of their buildings. Police stations also collect them.


How to properly dispose of a worn, tattered American flag



Does Ace Hardware accept old U.S. flags?

Thankfully local Ace Hardware stores will have a box inside that will allow you to properly dispose of the flag.

How do you dispose of a small American flag?

There are four ways to respectfully retire an American flag:
  1. Donate Tattered Flags. Donating is a great American flag disposal technique. ...
  2. Burning. The US Flag Code states that if the flag is not in good enough condition to represent our country, it should be taken down and destroyed. ...
  3. Flag Burial. ...
  4. Shredding.


How do you dispose of a nylon American flag?

Nylon flags can be mailed to American Flags Express for recycling. There is a fee to cover the cost of sorting, storing and transporting to a fabric recycler.


Do you have to dispose of a American flag if it touches the ground?

Does the flag have to be destroyed if it touches the ground? Answer: Care should be exercised in the handling of the flag, to protect it from becoming soiled or damaged. However, you are not required to destroy the flag if it touches the ground.

How are you supposed to retire a flag?

According to the U.S. Flag Code, when a flag is so damaged that it no longer can serve as a symbol of the country, it should be retired in a dignified way. The preferred method is burning it. But before doing that, you should shred the flag by separating the 13 stripes and leaving the blue spangled field intact.

Do you have to take down a flag every night?

As the Centre launches a Har Ghar Tiranga campaign from August 13, the Ministry of Home Affairs has amended the Flag Code of India 2002. The national flag can now remain hoisted through the night if it is in the open and hoisted by a member of the public.


When should you take down your flag at home?

The Flag Code states it is the universal custom to display the flag only from sunrise to sunset on buildings and on stationary flag staffs in the open. However, when a patriotic effect is desired, the flag may be displayed 24 hours a day if properly illuminated during the hours of darkness.

Is it disrespectful to leave a flag out overnight?

Traditional guidelines call for displaying the flag in public only from sunrise to sunset. However, the flag may be displayed at all times if it's illuminated during darkness.

Can you burn an American flag in your backyard?

RULING Yes. REASONING (5-4) The majority of the Court, according to Justice William Brennan, agreed with Johnson and held that flag burning constitutes a form of "symbolic speech" that is protected by the First Amendment.


Is it illegal to fly a ripped American flag?

Whoever knowingly mutilates, defaces, physically defiles, burns, maintains on the floor or ground, or tramples upon any flag of the United States shall be fined under this title or imprisoned for not more than one year, or both.

Is it disrespectful to fly a flag on a truck?

Decals and fabric flags (flown) are acceptable; however, draping a real flag flat over the hood, trunk, or truck bed is considered disrespectful to the flag. Q: Is it OK to fly a flag on a truck? A: As long as it doesn't interfere with the driver's field of view or obstruct the vehicle operation in any other way.

Where can I take old flags to be destroyed near me?

Take your old flags to your local American Legion post. They will be happy to retire your flags in their next disposal ceremony.


What do you do with old national flags?

3.25 When the Flag is in a damaged or soiled condition, it shall not be cast aside or disrespectfully disposed of but shall be destroyed as a whole in private, preferably by burning or by any other method consistent with the dignity of the Flag.

Where can I donate a flag near me?

Drop off your worn flags at any Goodwill Tenneva retail store or donation center and we'll ensure it is properly retired.

What do you do with old funeral flags?

All you'll need to dispose of a flag this way is a sharp pair of scissors, which you will use to carefully separate the flag's 13 stripes (the blue, “star-spangled” section should be left intact). Once properly shredded, the pieces can either be buried in a respectful manner or ceremonially burned, piece by piece.


Do you take flag down when it rains?

The flag should not be displayed on days when the weather is inclement, except when an all-weather flag is displayed.

Can the American flag be flown at night without a light?

It is the universal custom to display the flag only from sunrise to sunset on buildings and on stationary flagstaffs in the open. However, when a patriotic effect is desired, the flag may be displayed 24 hours a day if properly illuminated during hours of darkness.

Why do you have to burn the American flag when it touches the ground?

Nowhere in the U.S. Flag Code does it say that the American flag must be burned or retired if it touches the ground. This is simply has a myth that many Americans have come to believe over the years. You should still use caution to avoid letting the American flag touch the ground.


What side of your house do you put the American flag on?

So where do you hang the flag? Coming out the front of the house, the flag should be on the right of the door. If you come down the steps and face it from the curb, the flag will be on your left. The flag should only fly from dawn to dusk and at night only if you light it.

Why do you have to take your flag down at night?

Flags should not be left flying overnight because no one will be available to raise or lower it on the weekend or holiday, unless it is properly illuminated.