By MIKE COURSON
Great Bend Post
In February 2017, the National Association of Counties began a program to make retiring the American Flag with proper dignity a little easier. A new U.S. Flag Disposal Box recently arrived at the Barton County courthouse, and every other courthouse around the state.
"The National Association of Counties and the Kansas Association of Counties teamed together and sent that box out to all 105 counties in Kansas," said Commissioners' Assistant Diana Watson.
Flags may be respectively deposited in the box, and Watson or other courthouse staff will fold the flags to be delivered to the Barton County Sheriff's Office. There the flags will be destroyed according to proper protocol.
"Generally, that's going to include the sheriff taking the flags out, preparing a fire, burning them, playing appropriate music or reciting the Pledge of Allegiance, and then burying the ashes," Watson said.
The U.S. Flag Code states: "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.”
The American Legion, Veterans of Foreign Wars, Girl Scouts and Boy Scouts also collect flags for proper disposal.