How to Properly Dispose of Your Worn American Flag

Flying the American flag is a proud tradition, and with regular care, your flag can serve you well for many seasons. But like all things exposed to the elements, even the most durable flag will eventually become tattered, faded, or worn.

When that time comes, it’s important to retire your flag with the dignity it deserves. The U.S. Flag Code outlines several respectful ways to do this, each offering a meaningful farewell to a symbol that’s served its purpose.

How Do I Know If My Flag Should Be Retired?

As a living object, the American flag represents the United States itself. It is considered disrespectful to fly a heavily worn-out or damaged flag. Once your flag is overly faded, worn, or tattered beyond repair, it’s time to retire it.

How Do You Dispose of an American Flag?

Two primary methods are outlined in the Flag Code for retiring an American flag: burning and burial. Burning is recommended as the first choice, but should be avoided if lighting fires is unsafe in your region or if a participant has sensitive lungs. Please note that most flags are constructed from nylon or polyester, both of which release dangerous fumes during burning that shouldn’t be inhaled.

Ceremonial Burning (with Optional Shredding)

Burning is the most common method of US flag disposal. Ensure you have enough time and outdoor space to burn your flag safely and completely. 

1. Fold your flag into the traditional triangle. If you don’t know how, look at the video and the step-by-step guide at the bottom of this article.
2. Assemble the bonfire and light it up. Once the fire is going strong, carefully place the folded flag on the fire.
3. While the flag catches fire and burns away, take a moment to pay tribute to its service. Some suggestions include rendering the military salute, reciting the Pledge of Allegiance, or singing the national anthem.
4. Once the flag is entirely burned away, extinguish the fire and ensure no embers are left.

If you can’t build a large bonfire, you can instead shred the flag into pieces to burn on a smaller fire. Use scissors to cut off the canton (the blue rectangle with the stars), then separate each individual stripe. Burn each piece one by one.

Ceremonial Burial

Another proper way to dispose of the American flag is to bury it. We recommend this method if you can’t set up a fire safely.

1. Choose a burial site and dig a hole large enough for the box you’re using.
2. Fold your flag into the traditional triangle. If you don’t know how, look at the video and the step-by-step guide at the bottom of this article.
3. Place the folded flag into a wooden box and close it. 
4. Hold a ceremony for your flag’s burial. Some traditions include standing at attention or observing a moment of silence as the box is lowered into the ground.
5. Optionally mark the site with a stick flag or other patriotic symbol.

Burning vs Burial

Method	Pros	Cons
Burning (bonfire)	Preferred method of the US Flag Code	Burning plastic flags release dangerous fumes Wildfire risk
Burning (shredding)	Less intensive than building a bonfire	Burning plastic flags release dangerous fumes
Burial	Safer alternative to burning	Digging a hole takes more preparation

Tell Us About Your Disposal!

Are you planning on retiring your flag? Share your flag disposal ceremony with us by tagging us at @flagsdotcom on Instagram and Facebook!

How to Correctly Fold the American Flag

Start

Step 1

Fold the lower striped section of the flag over the blue field.

Step 2

Folded edge is then folded over to meet the open edge.

Step 3

A triangular fold is then started by bringing the striped corner of the folded edge to the open edge.

Step 4

Outer point is then turned inward parallel with the open edge to form a second triangle.

Step 5

Triangular folding is continued until the entire length of the flag is folded in the triangular shape with only the blue field visible.

Completed!

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Watch a Flag Retirement Ceremony by the American Legion!