A Pocatello veterans organization marked Memorial Day with its 23rd Annual Thunder Run event, which included a ceremony to properly retire worn and damaged American flags.
POW/MIA hosted the event in Pocatello, where organizers conducted a flag retirement ceremony as part of the observance. The ceremony follows long-standing protocols for disposing of flags that are no longer suitable for display.
Proper Flag Retirement Protocol
According to the U.S. Flag Code, worn flags should not be discarded in household trash. The code states that when a flag is no longer a fitting emblem for display, it should be destroyed in a dignified manner, preferably by burning.
The Flag Code was written more than a century ago when most American flags were manufactured from wool or cotton materials. Today’s flags are often made from synthetic materials, which has led some organizations to recommend additional retirement methods beyond burning.
Acceptable retirement methods now include burning, burial, cutting, repairing, or recycling, depending on the flag’s condition and material composition.
Beyond the American Flag
Flag retirement protocols extend beyond the American flag. State flags and country flags should also be retired respectfully when they become worn or damaged, according to veterans groups and flag etiquette organizations.
The retirement ceremony serves as a way to show respect not only for the flag itself but also for the country and those who have sacrificed in its defense. Memorial Day observances often include such ceremonies as part of broader commemoration activities.
Resources for Flag Retirement
Several organizations provide educational resources and retirement guidelines for individuals and groups seeking to properly dispose of worn flags. Veterans organizations, local fire departments, and Boy Scout troops often conduct flag retirement ceremonies and accept worn flags from the public.
The Thunder Run event in Pocatello reflects a tradition observed by POW/MIA organizations and veterans groups across Idaho and the nation, particularly during Memorial Day weekend when communities gather to honor military service members who died in the line of duty.