4 | FLAG DAY 2019 | COTTAGE GROVE SENTINEL
Fun Flag Facts
Whether you’re an educator
yourself or a parent who
loves their country (and its
fl ag), impress the kiddos
in your life with these fun
facts about the history of Old
Glory.
• The colors of the United
States fl ag are no accident.
Red stands for bravery, valor
and zeal; white symboliz-
es purity and innocence;
blue for loyalty, devotion,
vigilance, perseverance and
justice of our ancestors.
• Nicknames for the fl ag in-
clude: the Stars and Stripes,
Old Glory and the Star-Span-
gled Banner.
• The blue union holds 50
stars to represent the states
that make up the United
States, the stripes symbolize
the 13 original states
• The fl ag was created to
celebrate the independence
of the 13 American colonies
from Britain.
• On June 14, (now Flag
Day) 1777, the Continental
Congress passed the fi rst
Flag Act which ultimately established the
new fl ag for America.
• The fi rst offi cial fl ag featured its signa-
ture red and white stripes but had a bare
blue union. Stars were added later to
signify the different states as they entered
the union.
• The United States banner has similarities
Th ank you to our Sponsors
in color and design of other countries,
such as Liberia, Malaysia, Puerto Rico
and Chile.
• The current design of the fl ag has been
the same since 1960, when Hawaii joined
the union.
• The United States fl ag should always
be on top of a staff if multiple fl ags are
fl own.
Retiring a Battered Flag
When you deem a
fl ag too battered to
be displayed hon-
orably, retirement
requires a respect-
ful ceremony.
Laying this sym-
bol of America to
rest is a hum-
bling experience
and should be
done with care.
The Flag Code
expresses that the
preferred way of
disposal is through
a dignifi ed man-
ner, preferably
burning.
Do you know how to tell
when your banner is ready
for a respectful retirement?
Consider these factors to
determine when and how
to release Old Glory from
its display.
The Right Time
Before assuming your fl ag
is due for a replacement,
it’s important to inspect it
carefully. Many times, ex-
posure to outdoor elements
takes a toll on a fl ag’s
cleanliness and can make
it appear too weathered to
continue to serve. How-
ever, when its physical
integrity is in tact, a simple
washing can bring it back
to life.
When analyzing the integ-
rity of your fl ag’s mate-
rial, look beyond easily
cleaned obstructions. You
will know it is beyond
repairable when you notice
prominent holes or frayed
edges that will alter its size
and texture after mending.
Who is Authorized to
Retire a Flag?
The Flag Code doesn’t
restrict anyone from retir-
ing a banner, so use your
best judgment to choose
someone who will take the
responsibility seriously.
Here are some ideas to
consider if you plan to
conduct a ceremony, from
the Independence Hall
Association.
• One fl ag should be used
in the ceremony to repre-
sent all banners included
in the retirement service.
The remainder of symbols
should be collectively
incinerated;
• The solemn service
should be conducted out-
doors, in conjunction with
a campfi re program;
• The ceremony should
include two color guards,
one representing the fl ag
in use and another for the
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banner to be retired; and
• A leader of the service
should call the group to
attention, order a salute,
lead the Pledge of Al-
legiance, order the fl ag
retired and remain at the
scene until the fi re is safely
extinguished and ashes are
burned.
Other Options
Of course, the preferred
method of a dignifi ed
retirement is by burning.
If the experience is out
of your comfort zone,
however, a good avenue to
seek is your local Veterans
of Foreign Wars club or
American Legion. These
knowledgeable experts can
point you in the right di-
rection of a fl ag-retirement
service or host a ceremony
to ensure it is done proper-
ly and respectfully.
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