
See the list of how to do things in Saline County at www.mysaline.com/how.
Do you have an old United States flag that is ready to be retired, but you don’t know how to dispose of it properly? There are a few drop-off points that make the process a lot easier. The American flag is a symbol of everything our country stands for, and should be treated with honor and dignity.
Read below to learn 1. where to drop your worn flags, how to 2. raise and lower flags, 3. how to fold them and 4. how to store them.
Drop off
There are boxes in Benton and Bryant where residents can deposit their worn out flags any time of the day or week. Scouts will retrieve the flags and retire them properly.
One location is at ◉ Bryant at First United Methodist Church, at 508 N. Reynolds Road. The box is located next to the blessing box (little pantry) to the left side of the parking lot as you enter.
Another drop box is at the ◉ Benton Area Chamber of Commerce at 607 N. Market St. in Benton. It’s on the Chamber porch, just to the right of the door.
There is also a funeral home that will take your old flags during regular business hours. They use flags to place over veterans, as they are put into their final rest through cremation. ◉ Smith Funeral Home is located at 322 N Market Street in Benton.
Raising & lowering
The United States flag is always flown above other flags. The state flag is the next highest. If you fly the flag at night, it should be lit, so it doesn’t fly in darkness. When hoisting a large flag, use two people, or some other method to keep the flag from touching the ground. Use the same process for lowering the flag. It must never touch the ground.
Folding
When it’s being placed in storage or being retired, there’s a proper way to fold the American flag. Follow the simple instructions below.
One person holds the short and with stars, the other post and holds person holds the other short end with only stripes. Fold the flag neatly in half lengthwise, twice. The stars should be showing on the outside.
Now one person holds the blue end, the other person should fold the striped end by taking the outer corner and touching it to the other side, forming a triangle. Continue folding into neat triangle shapes until there is some fabric left at the end.
Next, the person holding the blue end will neatly tuck the remaining fabric into the triangle, in an effort to conceal all of the red. Once again, the flag must never touch the ground. You can also see the instructions with illustrations, from the US Dept of Veterans Affairs at this link.
Storing
If the American flag is being stored, place it and a display case or proper dignified container. If it is being retired, carry it in a dignified manner, or if placed in a container to carry, make sure it is a dignified container.
Want to know more about how to do things in Saline County? See the list at www.mysaline.com/how.