Is it legal or illegal to throw away a flag?

[Equinox Moon]

I have heard both.

[snowybirdie]

1. Burn it

Or give to a local organization such as American Legion or Boy Scouts who will. Don't know if trashing is illegal, but proper respect is to burn it

[lame54]

24. Recycle it...

As we learned from Trump's rally
It makes great Kleenex

[LuckyCharms]

2. It is not illegal, but it is considered disrespectful. n/t

[Lochloosa]

3. Uniform Code. Link. You can lawfully pee on it if you want.

Or blow your nose on it.


https://www.almanac.com/content/american-flag-etiquette-rules-and-guidelines

HOW TO PROPERLY DISPOSE OF AN AMERICAN FLAG
When the flag is in such condition that it is no longer a fitting emblem, it should be destroyed in a dignified and ceremonious fashion, preferably by burning. The American Legion holds an annual ceremony to retire old or worn flags; contact your local chapter if you are not able to dispose of the flag yourself

[Equinox Moon]

10. This one we used on DU for our Avatar image after 2016 election

The flag should never be displayed with the union (stars) down, unless as a signal of dire distress.

[Codeine]

4. A little of both, really.

There a “flag code” which is theoretically federal law, but it’s not enforced, presumably because it would be deemed unconstitutional in a heartbeat.

Do as thou wilt with one’s flag — lord knows it’s been rendered meaningless by Jingoistic imbeciles.

[Equinox Moon]

5. I wonder if each state has a law about it?

Maybe that is why it stated as both.

[Ms. Toad]

27. A state law would be equally unconstitutional. n/t

[TexasProgresive]

6. It's not illegal but disrespectful. There are organizations who will destroy them.

Now if you are trashing it as speach that is permissible at least until tRump signs an EO making it a capital offense. I hope.

[ProudLib72]

7. If it's a tRump flag then you are supposed to cut it up to use for toilet paper

You just need to be aware of city codes for waste that can be flushed into the sewer.

[Pachamama]

8. What about blowing snot or wiping your bodily fluids with it?

Just wondering - doesn’t seem to be a problem for the Trump Humpers if someone does that

[john657]

12. All covered under the 1st Amendment. N/T

[roamer65]

9. Give it to the local VFW hall.

They will do the needful with it.

[Codeine]

11. Or just throw it in the trash.

It’s a colorful cloth. Pretending it deserves special respect is silly and irrational.

[john657]

13. Then I guess I'm silly and irrational.

I was brought up to respect the Flag and to this day I still do.

[Mariana]

26. Respecting an object is pretty strange, and borders on idolatry

it seems to me. However, we do have freedom of speech and freedom of religion in this country, no matter how much the flag-worshipers wish it weren't so.

[LanternWaste]

44. Precisely what I tell people purchasing clothes they like

"Pretending it deserves special respect is silly and irrational..."

Precisely what I tell people purchasing clothes they like. Yet for some odd reason, people seem to be different from each other, and place sentiment in the silliest things... concert t-shirts, the quilt mom made the year before she passed, the shoes my aunt bought for her newborn and keeps.

Yup... silly and irrational, indeed.

Humans, right?

[Equinox Moon]

14. I understand the ceremony of respect. The scouts do a burning ceremony with the VFW

and fire department periodically. I looked it up online and I saw two stances on if it is legal or illegal to throw it away.

I would think burying it would be okay too.

[Srkdqltr]

15. Place to ask

I saw an American flag with one of the stripes blue instead of red. What is up with that?

[Equinox Moon]

16. was it the one that trump colored with the kids?

He did you know, just recently. Colored a flag with some small children and started coloring the strips blue.

I wondered if he was color blind? Or just the fool we all see each day.

[madinmaryland]

18. He's not color blind. He is just a goddamn moron. nt

[Codeine]

17. I've seen something similar,

but black and white with a single blue line. I think it’s some cop-sucker “thin blue line” bullshit.

[Equinox Moon]

19. Wow.

[madinmaryland]

20. Yes. That is correct. The ones I have seen have light and dark blue stripes.

It's that whole blue lives matter bullshit.

[jmowreader]

21. It's a "support the police flag"

They also do a flag that's black and white with one red stripe, which is the "support the firefighters" flag.

[Fla_Democrat]

22. Here's an idea, got it from a funeral home in Georgia.

They accept donations of flags to be retired, and if any veterans are delivered to the home for their final disposition, and the family requests cremation....
They will drape the containers with the flag as a final salute for their service.

[Equinox Moon]

23. That is a creative, honoring and useful idea

[Tipperary]

28. I find that odd. Veterans are supplied with a flag for their services.

[Fla_Democrat]

31. Just going by what I was told...

May wish to check their policy for any clarification.

http://www.musicfuneralhome.com/


I'm sure they could clarify any questions.

[Sgent]

39. Only

if the family or funeral home jumps through a bunch of hoops.

I have 3 veterans in my family, only one knows where his DD214 is -- and that's because he just moved, the others have had no contact with the VA for 30+ years.

[Aristus]

41. I'm a veteran. I was never supplied with a flag.

That's okay; I don't need one. Any time I consider flying one outside my house, I realize that someone will think I'm a hyper-patriotic repuke armchair warrior, and think better of it.

It has often been said that patriotism is the last refuge of scoundrels. Sometimes I think it's the only refuge of scoundrels...

[Mariana]

25. You are allowed to throw away your own property

if you don't want it anymore. This includes pieces of cloth with certain colors and pattern on them.

[dixiegrrrrl]

29. On June 22, 1942, Congress passed a joint resolution,that encompassed the U.S. Flag Code

so, a congressional Resolution, not a legal, binding law, of flag rules perhaps more along the lines of the Boy Scout rules.

Somewhere along the line, it got to the point where it just became a design to wear/use on stuff, and no one got arrested.

The "rules" about the flag are can be seen here, and thousands of other web pages.

https://www.almanac.com/content/american-flag-etiquette-rules-and-guidelines

One of the rules most of us know pretty well.....
The flag should never be displayed with the union (stars) down, unless as a signal of dire distress.

How to Properly Dispose of an American Flag

When the flag is in such condition that it is no longer a fitting emblem, it should be destroyed in a dignified and ceremonious fashion, preferably by burning. The American Legion holds an annual ceremony to retire old or worn flags; contact your local chapter if you are not able to dispose of the flag yourself.

[Trust Buster]

30. My local VFW has a convenient drop box. They burn them during the next ceremony.

[TygrBright]

32. It's perfectly legal. However, the Flag Code recommends...

...destruction by burning, of flags that have become tattered and/or soiled beyond repair/cleaning.

Your local VFW Chapter will probably be glad to receive an "honorably retired" flag and destroy it as recommended.

helpfully,
Bright

[tazkcmo]

33. You can throw it away legally.

A better and more dignified disposal method is to give it to a scout troop or ROTC program to do it properly.

[tirebiter]

34. I use mine for curtains in my van.

[Equinox Moon]

35. Ha

[pansypoo53219]

36. proper disposal is BURNING it.

[yortsed snacilbuper]

37. tRump supporters use it for a snot rag.

[keithbvadu2]

38. Plaid shirt was replaced for not cheering enthusiastically. Snot flag girl had a MAG hat.

Plaid shirt was replaced for not cheering enthusiastically. Snot flag girl had a MAG hat.

So she was ok to stay.

[Alea]

40. I don't know about legalities but...

If you're the type to be respectful to the flag, which I am, then it's suppose to be cut into four quadrants. Once that's done it's no longer considered a U.S Flag and may be disposed of. For instance, if it's tattered or faded and you want to dispose of it, cut into four pieces, and then dispose of it.

[Equinox Moon]

42. Nice option.

[librechik]

43. do whatever you want with your flag. The Military has special procedures

that no one else is required to follow. IMO, it might be pretentious to try.

[MineralMan]

45. It's legal.

Just look in a trash can after a 4th of July parade. You'll see dozens of little flags in it. The rest were dropped on the ground with the soda cans and candy wrappers.