OT: Trash or Treasure

This Saturday all of us will celebrate July 4th one way or another.

Our celebration will probably involve displaying our flag.

This reminded me of an event that I"d like to share with y"all.

Last September, Nancy and I were in WalMart getting a prescription filled.

While standing in line to submit the prescription, we both noticed an American flag in the trash can behind the counter.

We asked the pharmacy tech about the flag and she stated that it was part of a promotional display that had expired.

Since it was no longer needed for the display, it was just thrown away.

When we asked if we could "have" the flag, you would have thought Bonnie and Clyde reincarnated were standing at the counter.

A lot of strange looks from several people and disbelief on the faces of others.

Good news is that we "recycled" the flag for another day.

Displayed it in the back window behind the seat of my truck starting that day for several months.

I treasure that flag and now it has been waving proudly at the foot of my dad"s grave since Memorial Day; best spot in the world for it.

Yeah I know, it"s just a piece of brightly colored cloth stapled to a wooden stick with a gold painted point on the end.

As an object, it was trash to some folks, but a treasure to Nancy and me.

However we choose to display our flags on Saturday, let"s treasure what it represents to all of us.

Hope y"all have a good July 4th celebration and please be safe.

A nice timely story we can all appreciate.Thanx

That aint the way to retire a flag.

The city I live put flags up all over town on holladays. One fell out of holder and laided in water puddle nobody seamed to care. I picked it up and put it back in holder.

At work we've flown the American flag and the Canadian flag (we're a Canadian owned company) On poles we mounted on the top of our mill building (120 feet up) on 9/11/01 and have had 1000 watt spots on them continuously since then, they are big 5' x 8' flags and can be seen for a couple miles each direction from I-86. I've always taken pride in watching Alfie and Ray the maintenance guys on my shift change the flags when they become tattered. Those 2 guys are Vietnam veterans and handled the flags as honorably as any color guard. This last change 2 weeks ago was special as I helped Alfie change old glory. Ray passed away 4 weeks ago from cancer. I have that flag hung on the front wall inside my garage bay where it can be seen by anyone as they walk in.

It is really sad how you can now deface the flag and no one cares. Back in the day if you didn't do the right thing with the flag you could get fined and or even go to jail. Sad that no one cares any more.
Sad D.A.V. who thinks the U.S. is in sad shape any more

I think people who served in the military have a little more respct for the flag. Every base I have been on when the flag went up in the morning (morning colors) everyone came to a stand still and faced toward and saluted the flag. Stan

Flags are not supposed to be used for decoration. Only red white and blue "banners". If it were a real flag, thank you for saving it. Any flag deserves a respectfull end.
KennyP

I dont have all the rules handy, but I do know that the correct way to dispose of the flag is by burning.

In our area the Knights of Columbus and I think the Boy Scouts have a little ceremony every so often to burn tattered flags. I take mine, carefully folded, down to the longwood furnace at the shop, and on some old cold snowy day burn them.

By rights flags are not supposed to be used as towels or articles of clothing. No, Bruce Springsteen in his shirt made of a flag is not proper.


Gene

Springsteen is a jackal. He claims to love America, but despises any war.
He fails to understand we wouldn't have the one without the other.

They still do Chief. At Ft. Sam Houston it's at O530 and 1730. In a way that sucked because that's how long my work day was! Sometimes longer! And that happens 7 days a week. If you're driving you're supposed to stop the vehicle and get out and salute also. You can actually get a ticket from the MP's for not stopping, although it's rare.

I AM THE FLAG OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
By Howard Schnauber

I am the flag of the United States of America.
My name is "Old Glory".
I fly atop the world's tallest buildings.
I stand watch in America's halls of justice.
I fly majestically over institutions of learning.
I stand guard with power in the world.
Look up and see me.

I stand for peace, honor, truth and justice.
I stand for freedom.
I am confident.
I am arrogant.
I am proud.

When I am flown with my fellow banners,
My head is a little higher,
My colors a little truer.

I bow to no one!
I am recognized all over the world.
I am worshipped -- I am saluted.
I am loved -- I am revered.
I am respected -- and I am feared.

I have fought in every battle of every war
for more then 200 years.
I was flown at Valley Forge, Gettysburg,
Shiloh and Appomattox.
I was there at San Juan Hill,
the trenches of France,
in the Argonne Forest, Anzio, Rome
and the beaches of Normandy, Guam,
Okinawa, Korea, and Vietnam.
I was there. I led my troops.
I was dirty, battle-weary and tired,
but my soldiers cheered me
And I was proud.

I have been burned, torn and trampled
on the streets of countries I have helped set free.
It does not hurt, for I am invincible.

I have been soiled upon, burned, torn
and trampled on the streets of my country.
And when it's by those whom I've served in battle -- it hurts.
But I shall overcome -- for I am strong.

I have slipped the bonds of Earth
and stood watch over the uncharted frontiers of space
from my vantage point on the moon.
I have borne silent witness
to all of America's finest hours.
But my finest hours are yet to come.

When I am torn into strips
and used as bandages
for my wounded comrades on the battlefield,
When I am flown at half-mast to honor my soldier,
Or when I lie in the trembling arms
of a grieving parent at the grave of their fallen son or daughter,
I am proud.

MY NAME IS "OLD GLORY".
LONG MAY I WAVE.
DEAR GOD IN HEAVEN,
LONG MAY I WAVE.

Flag Disposal Ceremony

Proper flag disposal is one of the patriotic duties VFW Posts conduct nationwide. For those never witnessing an official flag retirement ceremony, here is an example of one held July 4, 2004, in Winslow, Ariz.


Winslow VFW Conducts Flag Retirement Ceremony

By S.J. Wilson,Winslow Mail
"Comrade commander, we wish to present a number of unserviceable flags of our country for inspection and disposal."

Thus began a very special ceremony conducted by VFW Post 3076, Winslow, Ariz., on the afternoon of July 4, 2004. Approximately 40 people attended as Ron Gibbs, post commander, directed the ceremony.

"A flag may be a flimsy bit of printed gauze, or a beautiful banner of finest silk. Its intrinsic value may be trifling or great; but its real value is beyond price, for it is a precious symbol of all that we and our comrades have worked for and lived for, and died for--a free nation of free men, true to the faith of the past, devoted to the ideals and practice of justice, freedom and democracy," reads a formal program from Washington D.C.

"Let these faded flags of our country be retired and destroyed with respectful and honorable rites, and their places be taken by bright new flags of the same size and kind, and let no grave of our soldier or sailor dead be unhonored and unmarked. Sergeant-at-arms, assemble the color guard, escort the detail bearing the flags and destroy these flags by burning."

VFW Chaplain Milton Baca blessed the flags to be retired thusly: "Almighty God, captain of all hosts and commander over all, bless and consecrate this present hour. We thank Thee for our country and its flag, and for the liberty for which it stands. To clean and purging flame we commit these flags, worn out in worthy service. As they yield their substance to the fire, may Thy holy light spread over us and bring to our hearts renewed devotion of God and country. Amen."


"
{ I deleted some of the after meeting minutes to save space}

There are people who burn the flag to show their disapproval of this country and out of disrespect," Boles said, but pointed out that in this ceremony the flag is being retired because it is no longer in good condition and appearance to represent the country.

Post Commander Ron Gibbs said that 78 flags were retired and that each individual who attended the ceremony were given the honor of retiring a flag.



"We don't like to use the term 'burning,' " she continued. "It's actually against the law to burn a flag. You can actually go to prison for burning a flag."


"We first were escorted to pick up the flag. Then each individual was escorted to the burning site where there was a container of kerosene. The flag was partially dipped in the kerosene and then dropped in a barrel prepared for that purpose," Boles said.

Hey there:
After fifty-seven years, I still remember
stopping, and saluting, whenever the
"call to colors" was heard. I still feel
the "Pride Inside" whenever I see "Our Flag",
waving Proudly. Sorry, but I'll always be
the guy, with teary eyes, whenever "she"
passes by. Bob
God Bless

Wal-Marts allegiance is to money and only money, It is the standard by which they survive. They don't understand or recognize any other entity other than money. There is only value in money, not people, not country, only money.

What is wrong with borrowing the design.Items of clothing with the design are not actually flags..Is it patented??

I guess they could be General Motors that didn't care about profits and now they are on Public Welfare from the Taxpayers.I'll take Walmart's attitude anytime.

Our local tractor club starts every meeting with the pledge to the flag. It makes me proud to be associated with a bunch of guys that still believe in that first.
Paul

One thing that irritates me the most is when someone puts up one of these "giant" flags and just lets it stay there for years on end until it is tattered and torn almost beyond recognition. Those people, groups of people, organizations or municipalities should be responsible for maintaining that symbol. When they put out the money to install the pole and purchase the flag, they should put enough money back to replace it as necessary. Leaving a tattered flag up is, in my eyes, a terrible disrespect to the symbolism and the pride for those of us who have served. Off my soap box now.

Dan

Troll Alert, DO NOT REPLY!

the flag used to mean something. Now with everyday that passes I hate this country a little more.What is Canada like?

Troll alert. DO NOT REPLY!

Mine is always up. My wife will most likely dsplay hers with the crossed stars in the middle.
Walt

PS She was names after the wife of the CSA President Winnie Davis.

There goes the idiot again.
Don't feed the troll, let him drown in his own ignorance.

Well luckily, most Saturdays and Sundays I was off. But the stupid loud speakers sometimes woke me up when I was trying to sleep in! And if that wasn't bad enough, Retreat was played a 2300, just after I would usually fall asleep!