How Do I Retire a Flag?

The sun, wind and rain take their toll on flags no matter the material, which leaves some people wondering, how to retire a flag?

At Phaneuf Funeral Homes and Crematorium, we’ve made it easy. Simply bring your retired American flag to one of our locations at 243 Hanover St. in Manchester or 172 King St. in Boscawen.

At both locations, you will find a mailbox with a red, white and blue flag wrap to make it easy to recognize.

Retiring a flag

Just place your retired flag into the mailbox slot and we will give it a proper retirement, per the U.S. Flag Code. Congress passed the joint resolution in 1942, providing guidance as to how to and how not to display the American flag, and how to retire an American flag.

“When the flag is in such condition that it is no longer a fitting emblem, it should be destroyed in a dignified and ceremonious fashion, preferably by burning,” states the code.

Phaneuf has retired more than 1,000 flags since we started the flag retiring program. We utilize our crematorium to burn decommissioned or tattered flags in a respectful manner.

We also offer families of deceased veterans the opportunity for the cremation of their loved ones with one of the retired flags.

American flags in veterans’ funerals

While the flag is traditionally draped over the casket during a veteran’s funeral service, in the case of a veteran’s cremation, the flag is hung over the urn or receptacle, before the flag-folding ceremony.

The flag-folding ceremony at a funeral service is a very impactful way to commemorate the life of a veteran or fallen soldier. During the flag-folding ceremony, the flag is carefully folded 13 times by six honor guards, according to the Old Farmer’s Almanac.

The proper display of the American flag

The union should be at the peak of the staff when displayed from a staff projecting from a building.

Display the flag flat, whether indoors, outside or suspended, so that the  folds fall freely as though staffed.

Suspend the flag vertically with the union to the north in an east and west street, or to the east in a north and south street, when displayed over a street.

In a church or auditorium, the flag should occupy the position of honor and reside at a speaker’s right as they face the audience.

At half-staff, hoist the flag first to the peak for an instant and then lower it to half-staff position. It should again be raised to the peak before being lowered for the day.

When the flag is in such condition that it is no longer a fitting emblem, it should be destroyed in a dignified and ceremonious fashion, preferably by burning, states the U.S. Flag Code.