In honor of Flag Day, members of American Legion Post 131 conducted a flag-disposal ceremony recently. After collecting discarded and unserviceable flags at various drop boxes in town over the past year, Lynnfield Post Commander Tom Bogart and Post 131 Adjutant Chuck Leach traveled to the WIN Waste Innovations Inc’s. waste-to-energy facility in North Andover to have the flags honorably destroyed.
The United States Flag Code, enacted in 1923, set the rules for the proper use, display, and disposal of the American flag. According to the code, “When a flag is in such condition it is no longer a fitting emblem for display, it should be destroyed in a dignified way, preferably by burning.”
“We have been collecting flags that were dropped off in the specially built flag boxes at Town Hall and other locations over the past year or so,” Bogart said.
“With the help of Brett Potter of the Public Works Department, we stored these flags in their yard and at the Forrest Hills Cemetery. We collected dozens of bags full, and we needed to arrange for a large-scale disposal,” he said. “That’s when WIN Waste Innovations offered their assistance. We found out about their policy to help veterans’ groups, and others, to dispose of the flags at no cost at WIN Waste’s plant. Chuck Leach and I loaded up my trailer and traveled to North Andover.”
Lynnfield Post 131 would also like to thank Veterans Services Officer Bruce Siegel for his assistance on the project. Also, the post would like to recognize Boy Scout Troop 48 of Lynnfield for its help as well.
