Happy 4th of July!

Please enjoy our Freedom 4th of July audio message as well as the written message below.

This Fourth of July weekend is sure to be filled with cookouts, fireworks and lots of red, white and blue. But if you notice that your Stars and Stripes are more than a little worn, faded or torn, do you know how to properly retire your U.S. flag once it’s been replaced with a new one?

The National Flag Foundation quotes the U.S. Flag Code about when and how to properly dispose of a flag:
“The flag, when it is in such condition that it is no longer a fitting emblem for display, should be destroyed in a dignified way, preferably by burning.”

There are other ways to properly and respectfully dispose of a U.S. flag that does not involve a fire, however. Given the different materials used in the manufacture of flags today, burning may not be the best option.

One option in Granville County is a flag disposal box, which has been available to county residents for a few years. It’s located just outside the county tax office, 141 Williamsboro St., Oxford.

The local Boy Scouts are responsible for retrieving the donated flags and conducting ceremonies to retire them in a respectful manner.

Other organizations, in addition to the Boy Scouts, that could help with proper flag disposal are the Girl Scouts, American Legion and Veterans of Foreign Wars.

Flag Day (June 14) is one of the most common days to hold flag disposal ceremonies, according to the National Flag Foundation, based in Pittsburgh, Pa.