It’s one of the oldest U.S. traditions, folding a flag.
But many veterans fear it’s also becoming a lost art form.
Here in OC, there’s a host of local vets keeping up the fight.
Flag etiquette – such as when to fold or retire a flag – is falling out of mainstream knowledge, says Daniel Jennings.
“There’s much education that used to be taught about protocol on how we handle our nation’s flag, and it is no longer taught,” said Jennings, who is currently in the U.S. Army Reserves and Sr. Vice Commander at the Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 3173 in Anaheim.
“It is not considered important curriculum, the knowledge base seems to dissipate unless somebody joins the service or something like that.”
The United States Flag Code dictates that damaged American flags must be burned to conclude a ceremonial retirement – raising environmental concerns, as modern flags made of nylon or polyester can release hazardous material when burned.
That’s prompted local VFW and the American Legion posts to retire flags themselves by purchasing incinerators.
Anaheim’s VFW post acquired an incinerator in May of this year and plans to retire over 3,000 worn flags given to them by city government, schools and other residents – held in storage at the location.
Although formal flag retirement ceremonies can differ, a basic ceremony begins by folding the flag in an intentional manner — known as the 13 folds, with each having a symbolic meaning.
Adopted by the National Flag Conference in 1923 and signed into public law in 1942, the nation’s flag code denounces disrespectful use of the flag, provides guidelines for display and protocol for the Pledge of Allegiance.
The 13 folds represent a series of symbols and tributes to the nation’s founding principles. The first fold symbolizes life, while other folds are in tribute to the belief of eternal life, the impact of women, the sacrifice of parents and the nation’s motto “In God We Trust.”
The third and seventh folds are tributes to service members – past and present.
The folded flag is placed upon the fire, during which time participants may salute the flag, say the Pledge of Allegiance, say a prayer or hold a moment of silence.
[Read: Where to Honor Veterans Across OC]
With incineration at local VFW posts — the flags are placed into the machine prior to the ceremony.
Dana Point’s VFW Post also purchased an incinerator towards the end of this summer, with financial assistance from the City of Dana Point.
Rick Jauregui, Post Commander for the Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 9934 in Dana Point noted that they would host a flag retirement ceremony with the Boy Scouts on Doheny Beach before the COVID-19 pandemic.
“But part of the problem is that you end up with so much residue from flags because they’re not all cotton,” he said. “And then people don’t realize that after you burn them, now you end up with the metal grommets.”
The flags are decommissioned before they are recycled, Wade explained, which involves separating the field — the blue rectangle of 50 stars — and the stripes by making respectful cuts.
After making the appropriate cuts, Wade folds them into the traditional triangular shape and delivers them to Aquafil in Anaheim for recycling.
“They use that laser spectrometer to determine precisely what the composition of each flag is, and then they bundle them by type, and then they’re sent out for recycling,” Wade explained. “For the flags that are nylon six, they’re able to completely circular recycle them. In other words, they turn them back into high quality nylon products.”
Wade has recycled hundreds of American flags through the program so far.
“The work, it’s toxic, and like I say, even the incineration of flags makes it safer, but those molecules are still around,” she said. “So that’s why I am hopeful that recycling could work.”
Burning wasn’t an issue when the flag customs were written into state law in the late 19th century, when flags were made of natural materials like cotton, linen, silk and wool.
Flags made of synthetic materials came about in the mid-20th century, a time of advancement in textiles and plastics.
“As a veteran, we look at the American flag a little differently than other people. We served, we went to war for it. We served under it,” said Jauregui.
“When we lower that flag to half mast during ceremonies, Memorial Day, some Veterans Day, we feel a little bit more than other people. It’s not just because somebody told us to do it, it’s because somebody’s been lost. We no longer have one of our brothers and sisters with us anymore.”
“So when we talk about the disposal of flags, and when we talk about the ceremony involved, and the respect when we say goodbye to that flag and we burn it with honor,” he said.
“It’s not getting rid of something, people have entrusted us with those flags.”
Erika Taylor is a Voice of OC Tracy Wood Reporting Fellow and photojournalist. You can find her on Instagram @camerakeepsrolling or email at etaylor@voiceofoc.org
