The stars and stripes will certainly be flying this Fourth of July, but is your flag ready for the occasion?
To find out try looking for obvious signs of wear. If your flag looks faded or has tattered edges it may be time for it to retire.
The process to honorably retire the flag is simple, all you need to do is drop your flag off at a designated collection site.
According to Paul Missett, Chairman of the Wausau Veterans Committee, "After they've completed burning the flags, the ashes that remain from it, they will then take and bury those with the next veteran that they bury. So that we have a continuation of our country's veteran support."
The Legion always sets one flag aside to burn ceremoniously; the rest are sent to local funeral homes where they're incinerated. The ashes are then buried with veterans.
In addition to the American Legion Post, the VFW also collects flags.
