Lavonia City Council Approves Placing Boy Scout Flag Box in Front of City Hall

A local Boy Scout from Lavonia Troop 51 is spearheading an effort to help people properly retire their tattered, old, or worn American Flag.

Connor McDuffie came before the Lavonia City Council last week to explain the project why it’s important.

“There’s no physical box in the community that allows them to retire their flags,” McDuffie said. “So, my project will give the community a way to show their patriotism and have a place for them to drop off their flags so the Boy Scouts can retire their flags if they cannot.”

When a flag is worn out or no longer a fitting symbol to display, the United States Flag Code says it should be retired in a dignified way, preferably burned and buried.

According to the Veterans of Foreign Wars web site, “While the federal code contains no penalties for misusing the flag, states have their own flag codes and may impose penalties. The language of the federal code makes clear that the flag is a living symbol.”

McDuffie is working on being promoted to Eagle Scout and as part of his project, he asked that his flag disposal box be placed in the front of City Hall.

“I would like to ask the City Council’s permission if I can show the City of Lavonia’s patriotism by building the Scout flag box and placing it outside the City Hall doors,” he requested. “It would also allow for easy access for Troup 51, which is stationed down in the park to come and go and pick up any flags that anybody drops off during the week.”

After hearing from McDuffie, the Council voted unanimously to approved the location of McDuffie’s flag box.

According to the U.S. Flag Code, the proper way to dispose of an American Flag is to:

1. Fold the flag in the customary triangle manner.
2. Prepare a fire large enough to burn the flag completely.
3. Place the flag in the fire.
4. While it burns, witnesses should recite the Pledge of Allegiance or salute.
5. End the ceremony with a moment of silence before burying the flag’s ashes.

Once built, Scouts from Troup 51 will collect the retired flags from the box and properly retire them according to the U.S. Flag Code.