Proper Burial

Instapundit, who has this photo up today, taken in a Tennessee town

jokes that

I thought we'd at least have until the Democrats took the White House before these things started popping up.

If those who empty it are intending to give unserviceable flags (torn, dirty, stained) a proper funeral--by ceremonially burning them--then the container is a good thing.

It's far better and less upsetting than finding them in a dumpster or a trash heap.

Glenn knows this undoubtedly, but I thought it needed to be said for those who don't and who may be sending him nasty-grams this second.

UPDATE: Some folks thoght that Glenn's picture was a Photoshop creation, so he posts another view of the "mail" box with its surroundings visible.

Interesting how different human perspective is on the idea of flag disposal. Those who knew little about flag protocol thought that the photo was fake; those who know more about it found the concept entirely plausible.

Comments

[doubleplusundead]

The local VFW have a few old mailboxes here that they have marked to drop flags that are worn out.

[Rustmeister]

The Cub Scouts and Boy Scouts are a good way to get unserviceable flags taken care of.

The kids learn something, and the flag is disposed of correctly.

[DarkStar]

This is wrong. The flag is supposed to be treated with reverence, even if it is to be destroyed.

You properly fold it. It NEVER touches the ground. You take it to a VFW or military base or you read about the proper way to burn it. You do not do THIS.

This. Is. Wrong.

[baldilocks]

You're wrong Dark Star. And what ground is it touching?

[baldilocks]

Did you even read past the photo? Click any links?

[DarkStar]

In general Baldi, the flag is not supposed to touch the ground. And, yes, I did click links, and yes, I think it is still wrong.

If you aren't going to dispose of it properly, you hand it off to someone who will. You don't plop it in a box like this. Essentially, the box like this is a trash can. At least that's how I view it. Now, understanding that I view this as a trash can, why am I wrong?

[Andy]

One thing that has always puzzled me is how to properly dispose of modern nylon or plastic flags.

I can't imagine burning them and releasing all that nasty smoke is a good idea.

Have the rules of flag disposal been updated to handle synthetic materials?

-Andy

[AME]

Andy: Burning has never been a requirement, only a preference. That preference was meant to ensure that unserviceable flags never met an undignified end, such as being atop a rotting trash heap.

The actual method of disposal only needs to be "dignified." An option for nylon flags would be recycling:

http://www.americanflagdisposal.com/