FLAG DISPOSAL & RETIREMENT

How to properly retire a flag that's no longer fit for display — burning, burial, and what to do with synthetic flags — per the U.S. Flag Code (Title 4, U.S. Code, Chapter 1, §8(k)).

Student delegates watching an American flag retirement ceremony at Freedom Academy 2026, Camp Williams, Utah
Photo: Utah National Guard / Sgt. Dustin B. Smith

Utah National Guard photo by Sgt. Dustin B. Smith, 128th Mobile Public Affairs Detachment. Student delegates watch a flag retirement ceremony at Freedom Academy 2026, Camp Williams, Utah, July 15, 2026. Source: DVIDS, Photo ID 9816289 (public domain). Use of this image does not imply endorsement by the Utah National Guard, the U.S. Army, or the Department of Defense.

Our Retirement Program

Tattered Flag Foundation hosts flag retirement ceremonies right here in the Oracle area. If you have a flag ready to retire, just get in touch — we'll work out whether it makes more sense for you to drop it off or for us to come pick it up. We retire flags both by burning and by respectful burial, and ceremonies typically happen on weekends and holidays, though other times can usually be arranged if you ask.

We also offer flag replacements on request. This is generally reserved for seniors and disabled citizens who are no longer able to maintain a flag of their own, so if that describes your situation, reach out and let us know.

Utah National Guard soldiers, American Legion members, and Boy Scouts retiring worn flags at the Fiesta Days ceremony in Spanish Fork, Utah
Photo: U.S. Army National Guard / Keith Garner

U.S. Army National Guard photo by Keith Garner. Utah Army National Guard soldiers, American Legion members, Boy Scouts, and community volunteers retire worn American flags at the Fiesta Days Flag Retirement Ceremony, Spanish Fork, Utah, July 13, 2026. Source: DVIDS, Photo ID 9863413 (public domain). Use of this image does not imply endorsement by the U.S. Army, the National Guard, or the Department of Defense.

The Rule

Title 4, U.S. Code, §8(k) puts it in one sentence: a flag no longer fit for display “should be destroyed in a dignified way, preferably by burning.” Two words carry the weight. “Dignified” means the retirement is treated as a ceremony, not a chore. “Preferably” acknowledges that burning is the tradition, not the only acceptable method — a flag retired with care, by any respectful means, has been retired correctly.
Utah National Guard soldiers, American Legion members, and Boy Scouts retiring worn American flags at a ceremony
Photo: U.S. Army National Guard / Keith Garner

U.S. Army National Guard photo by Keith Garner. Utah Army National Guard soldiers, American Legion members, Boy Scouts, and community volunteers retire worn American flags at the Fiesta Days Flag Retirement Ceremony, Spanish Fork, Utah, July 2026. Source: DVIDS, Photo ID 9863421 (public domain). Use of this image does not imply endorsement by the U.S. Army, the National Guard, or the Department of Defense.

The Burning Ceremony

The most familiar version of the ceremony traces back to the American Legion, which formally adopted a flag retirement ritual in 1937 and still conducts it today, most visibly around Flag Day on June 14. A typical ceremony folds the flag into its traditional triangle, presents it a final time, and commits it respectfully to a fire built for the purpose. Participants often salute or hold a moment of silence as the flag burns completely to ash, and the ashes are buried afterward. A private retirement at home can be just as proper, provided it's done with intention and in compliance with local fire ordinances and burn bans.
Utah National Guard soldiers, American Legion members, and Boy Scouts retiring worn flags at the Fiesta Days ceremony in Spanish Fork, Utah
Photo: U.S. Army National Guard / Keith Garner

U.S. Army National Guard photo by Keith Garner. Utah Army National Guard soldiers, American Legion members, Boy Scouts, and community volunteers retire worn American flags at the Fiesta Days Flag Retirement Ceremony, Spanish Fork, Utah, July 2026. Source: DVIDS, Photo ID 9863418 (public domain). Use of this image does not imply endorsement by the U.S. Army, the National Guard, or the Department of Defense.

Synthetic Flags & Burial

Most flags today are made of nylon or polyester, which can give off hazardous fumes when burned — so many retirement programs, including ours, separate synthetic flags and retire them by other dignified means instead, such as respectful burial or specialized recycling that reclaims the material. Burial is a proper alternative for any flag: fold it (or shred it first, separating the thirteen stripes with scissors while keeping the blue star field intact), place it in a sturdy wooden box, and bury it, marking the spot if you'd like. A moment of silence is customary.
Utah National Guard soldiers, American Legion members, and Boy Scouts retiring worn flags at the Fiesta Days ceremony in Spanish Fork, Utah
Photo: U.S. Army National Guard / Keith Garner

U.S. Army National Guard photo by Keith Garner. Utah Army National Guard soldiers, American Legion members, Boy Scouts, and community volunteers retire worn American flags at the Fiesta Days Flag Retirement Ceremony, Spanish Fork, Utah, July 2026. Source: DVIDS, Photo ID 9863415 (public domain). Use of this image does not imply endorsement by the U.S. Army, the National Guard, or the Department of Defense.

A Word on Just Throwing It Out

Throwing a flag in the trash isn't a federal crime for private citizens, though it's strongly discouraged by the Flag Code. Some states have their own flag-desecration statutes, though they're rarely enforced against someone disposing of a genuinely worn flag. If you'd rather not deal with it yourself, that's exactly what our retirement program is for.

Quick Reference

  • We host retirement ceremonies — contact us for drop-off or pickup.
  • Burning and burial both offered, weekends and holidays (ask about other times).
  • Replacements available on request, mainly for seniors and disabled citizens.
  • §8(k): destroy it in a dignified way, preferably by burning.
  • Synthetic flags are often better retired by burial than burning.
  • Not a federal crime to trash it, but strongly discouraged.