I just saw people burning America flags and I feel very confused by it?

Question

I just went to a Flag Ceremony down in the parking lot of a government office building that also features a Korean War monument and a Workers Monument.

I'd never been to a Flag Ceremony before and was expecting music, food, maybe make some new friends.

Anyway, there was a crowd of people looking at Boy Scouts burning American Flags. The crowd was orderly and no one was breaking any laws.

The Boy Scouts were taking the flags and laying them into the burning drums. They were then saluting the flags as they burned.

I got very upset when I saw this. Although I know it's legal, I dont like the idea of burning a symbol - any symbol - that people believe in.

When I saw what was happening, I got in my car and left. I never got close enough to hear what was being said.

Can anyone tell me what I witnessed? Was this a bad thing or was this some sort of... some sort of something else?

Answer 1

The flag may have been old or worn.  I looked up something from our amendments:

"The flag, when it is in such condition that it is no longer a fitting emblem for display, should be destroyed in a dignified way, preferably by burning."

It may have been, but if not, I don't know...

Answer 2

I am a Boy Scout and have participated in, and organized these events many times before.  In these ceremony's, the flag is tattered and torn, and therefore are no longer suitable to be flown.  Because of this, they usually give the flag one more fly, and then fold it into the triangle shape you see in the military, and place it into the fire.  They give it one last salute.  These fires are supposed to burn out naturally, and then the grommets are found and buried in the ground.  This is out of respect for the flag, and the generally accepted way to retire flags rather than throwing them away.  It is normally a quiet, solemn ceremony where people pay their respects to the flag, the symbol of our country, and honor it.

Answer 3

The proper way to retire an American flag is to have a ceremony and burn it. It is an honorable way to get rid of an old, frayed flag. It is much better than bunching it up and shoving it in a garbage can where it can then rot in a dump.

Answer 4

Read about it on this site, it was how they normally do it, but there are strict guidelines how it's to be done.  Since there were Boy Scouts, it was legit.

Don't Worry.

Answer 5

That is how you remove a flag ceremoniously. Any other way is disrespectful....you can not just throw a flag away.

Answer 6

I know certain places collect flags that have touched the ground because it's against beliefs and what have you and then about once or twice a year they burn them.

I hope this helps to understand.

Answer 7

You witnessed a retiring of the american. i am a boy Scout and they do that every year its nothing bad

Answer 8

They are burning old, worn, and flags that have touched the ground, that is the proper way to dispose of flags.

Answer 9

You don't like the idea of anyone burning ANY symbol that people believe in?

What about a n**i symbol?  

What about a KKK symbol?

That's not a very bright statement you just made there.

Answer 10

Sorry No-one has answered  but I can't be witnessed because I live in England

Answer 11

when a flag gets old or messed up, they retire it at these ceremonies. they do certain traditions and then they burn it. it is very legal and sort of a respect thing instead of just throwing it away.

Answer 12

they were old  or damaged flags- they have to be ceremonially burned!

Answer 13

I've heard of this before.  It's legal.  You should find out why they are doing this and if you were there, why didn't you ask?  The flags they are burning are old and damaged and a ceremony is apart of how they are disposed of.

Answer 14

THIS IS THE ONLY PROPER WAY TO GET RID OF OLD OR BADLY WORN FLAGS

Answer 15

The flags were probably torn or just taken out of general use.  The way to properly dispose of an American flag is to burn it ... but you can't just 'toss it onto any fire' or light it up.  The flag should be folded or bunched properly, then saluted as it burns ... there should be someone there to watch it burn and make sure that it is ALL ASHES when the burning is over.  I know this because a friend of mine died in Vietnam and I was his beneficiary ... among other things, I recieved his flag.  At that time, I took the flag to the Chaplain of a local military reservation and had the flag burned, but not all flags are from military burials or the military, and what you saw was the PROPER destruction of this great symbol of our country.

Answer 16

As many have pointed out before, burning old flags is the proper disposal method. Throwing them away would result in seeing American flags rotting in landfills; not a pretty sight.

Regardless, it's just a piece of cloth, thread, and dye. There are much more important things to worry about in the world than a burning flag.

Answer 17

they obviously hate america. i do too.

Answer 18

Hopefully a ceremony to dispose of  old flags.

Answer 19

This is the proper way to dispose of old flags. They are doing it with respect.How else would they do it, throw them in the dump? I don't think so.

Answer 20

When a flag is torn, faded, or soiled in anyway it is considered a disgrace. Although people in Iraq burned ou flag, the way the US does it is actually very honorable.