Drop off old flags to be ceremonially burned

PATRIOT DAY

by Emma DiMaggio

emmad@lwsb.com

With Patriot Day (Sept. 11) right around the corner, people looking to hang up fresh American flags are encouraged to drop off their old, tattered or worn out flags at Leisure World's flag box, located outside the LW Library.

The flag box—a repurposed postal box acquired and set up by GRF in 2021—is managed by American Legion Post 327.

According to the U.S. Flag Code, retired American flags should be destroyed in a dignified way, preferably by burning.

The flags collected at the Post's flag box are transported to American Legion Post 716 in Los Alamitos. The flags are then forwarded to Bakersfield, where they are ceremonially burned.

The ceremony honors the memory of fallen and living military members, as well as their families, and the service given by military members during both war and peace times.

Mutual 5 resident Phil Hood, a former Mutual 5 president and GRF treasurer, is the Post chaplain in charge of periodically collecting the retired flags.

Hood collects about 3040 flags every month or so, the equivalent of one to two 20-pound bags. In the past month, the box has amassed 95 flags. According to Hood, he collects more flags around federal holidays like Fourth of July and Memorial Day.

People can place a number of U.S. flags in the box, including prisoner of war (POW) flags and American flags with colored stripes (such as those that specifically honor first responders, police, or medical workers).

Residents are urged not to put minature flags in the box— such as those that are placed in lawns or as decoration on tables or golf carts—as they'll be discarded.

Hood emphasized that new flags should not be placed in the flag collection box either, especially those in plastic bags.

Instead, Hood encourages residents to gift new flags to friends or neighbors.

The flag box is located in front of the LW Library.