The County Legislature, Patrick Casper, commander of the Fromm-Maxwell-Debaun American Legion Post 859 in Suffern and John Leighton, past commandant of Rockland Detachment 243 of the Marine Corps League this week announced a new effort that will provide the public with a convenient location to drop off old, worn or tattered US flags.
The collection effort will provide visitors to county government offices, as well as county workers and anyone else who wants to stop by, with a convenient drop-off location for their worn U.S. flags.
U.S. Marine Staff Sgt. Lindsay of the Marine Recruiting Office in Nanuet was consulted as part of the planning process for the new collection effort.
Commander Casper said the collection would help people who don’t know what to do with their old flags.
“Many people are unaware that our flag should be disposed of in a proper way,” Casper said. “Simply throwing it into the trash is the last thing that should happen. This drop-off box will provide an opportunity for a proper retirement.”
The Suffern American Legion Post annually receives about 800 worn U.S. flags, which are properly retired in time for Flag Day, which falls on June 14.
Commander Leighton also encouraged people to take advantage of the collection effort.
“We are blessed to live in a great nation and we should always remember the sacrifices that have been made to ensure that we continue to live in freedom,” Leighton said. “The flag symbolizes those sacrifices and our democracy. We must treat it with reverence and respect.”
The U.S. Flag Code states the correct use and display rules for all occasions and situations. Section 8K states that 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.”
Collected flags will be hand-delivered to Post 859 for proper disposal during a June 11 retirement ceremony. Flags may be dropped off between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. weekdays through June 9 at the Legislature’s Offices, 11 New Hempstead Road in New City. Call 845-638-5100 for more information.
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