Re: Flag Burning - To cut or not to cut...

Chuck Bramlet (chuckb@aztec.asu.edu) recently stated:

>One of the Council "Flag experts" here advises that according to the "Flag
>Code", a Flag made by screen printing one piece of material is not technicly
>a Flag, in the legal sense. Only a Flag made by sewing the stars on the field,
>and sewing the stripes together with the field.

My copy of the Flag Code gets into great detail regarding the number and
color of the stripes, stars, union, and the flag's shapes and proportions.
Nowhere have I found a statement regarding whether a flag has to be sewn
or printed, nor any statement that a printed flag is not a flag. You might
ask your flag "expert" to quote the section of the U.S. Flag Code that
supports his position.

>On the same note, he recomends _not_ cutting the Flag apart, but disassembling
>it with a seam ripper. More dignified that way, and takes a bit more time -
>as well as giving the person doing the work time to relfect on the meaning
>of the flag, and what it stands for.

This is a matter of style. Not my style, since it probably takes too much
dexterity from a 12 year old, but that's one way of doing it that could
be effective.

>It _is_ correct, though, from what I have learned, that cutting a Flag apart
>makes it no longer a Flag, but an assemblage of pieces of cloth which may
>then be destroyed in a dignified way.

True enough, but this would seem to imply that a whole flag cannot be
destroyed in a dignified way, which is simply not true. U.S. Public Law
Title 36, Chapter 10, Paragraph 176(k) states:

"The flag, when it is in such condition that it is no longer a fitting
emblem for display, should be destroyed in a dignified way, preferably
by burning."

There is no other mention in any law currently in effect in the U.S.
regarding the disposition of the American flag. Anything you may add
to the process of disposing of an American flag is a matter of
preference or style, not law.

So, let me tell you how it was done last Saturday night at Camp
Tomo-Chi-Chi Knolls of Des Plaines Valley Council, at the campfire
of the Scoutmaster Fundamentals Course Training Troop 1. The
ceremony was planned by the SM and the Patrol Leader and was conducted by
the Screaming Eagle Patrol, with Patrol Leader Ron Fox (your humble
scribe) having the honor of presiding.

The Troop was called to attention by the PL. The Troop (which was not
informed in advance of what was about to be done) was asked to make
a space to allow entry into the campfire circle ring. The PL directed
the honor guard (the other 4 members of the patrol) front and center.
The honor guard, 2 x 2, strode into the ring and halted in front of the
SM. The SM told the Troop that we were going to retire (the word
"dispose" was not used) a flag that was no longer servicable, and spoke
briefly about the known history of that particular flag. The folded
flag was then presented to the honor guard. The PL directed the honor
guard to post the colors (the campsite flagpole was approximately 50'
north of the ring), and directed the campers to salute and to shine their
flashlights on the flag with their free hands. The flag was hoisted.
After about 10 seconds, the PL directed the honor guard to retire the colors.
This was done. The PL directed the troop to drop the hand salute ("2"),
and directed the honor guard to advance. The front two members of the
honor guard held the flag by the top two corners, union to the viewer's left,
and advanced to the campfire, where they halted. The PL led the Troop in
the Pledge of Allegiance. The SM invited any member of the Troop who
desired to speak briefly about what the flag meant to them. Approximately
6 did, as did then the SM. After a few moments of silence, the PL directed
the Troop to salute and directed the honor guard to proceed. The honor
guard folded the flag lengthwise twice (as if they were about to fold it)
and then lowered it into the fire, taking care that no part of the flag was
outside the center of the fire. Taps was played by a bugler. The Troop held
the salute until the flag was consumed.

There were a few wet eyes.

Ron Fox
Cubmaster, Pack 69
No longer Patrol Leader, Screaming Eagles, Training Troop 1
Des Plaines Valley Council (W & SW suburbs, Chicago, IL)
E-mail: ronfox@pop3.interramp.com (Ronald W. Fox)

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