They are burned with due reverence and respect.


Retiring Old Glory
When the United States flag (Old Glory) becomes worn, torn,
faded or badly soiled, it is time to replace it with a new flag,
and the old flag should be "retired" with all the dignity and respect
befitting our nation's flag. The traditional method of retirement is
to incinerate the flag, but this does not mean that one should
simply drop the entire flag (intact) into a fire.

A flag ceases to be a flag when it is cut into pieces. In addition,
it is easier to completely incinerate the flag, if it is cut into smaller
pieces. A flag should never be torn up like an old bed sheet. It
should be cut up with scissors or shears in a methodical manner.
The corners of the flag should be stretched out over a table top
and someone should cut the flag in half, vertically (be careful not
to cut up the blue star field. Then, place the two halves together
and cut them in half, horizontally. You will end up with four pieces
of flag, one being the blue star field.



Jonathan Ganz wrote

I believe you're supposed to bury it... burning can't be right, since
those assholes in Congress tried but failed to outlaw it.

--
"j" ganz @@
www.sailnow.com

"Walt" wrote in message
...
Martin Baxter wrote:
Joe wrote:
"Wolfie" wrote
Bart Senior wrote:

The 21-gun salute comes from summing of the digits in the
year 1776.

Salutes of 21 guns for national leaders predate 1776 and
the American Revolution...

Wrong, Bart is correct.

Rubbish! By 1730 the Royal Navy (British that is) routinely fired 21
gun
salutes for certain anniversaries.

Rubbish is certainly right. http://www.snopes.com/military/21gun.htm

The 21 gun salute is not of American origin and predates the American
Revolution. The 1776 thing is just a coincidence, no matter what
misinformation might have been dumped in you email inbox by clueless
people who middlessly forward everything they get without checking to
see if it's true or even plausible.

BONUS QUESTION: What's the proper way to dispose of a flag that has
become old and worn out?

--
//-Walt
//
// http://cagle.slate.msn.com/working/040514/matson.gif