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Disposing of the flag

Posted at 1:12 PM on May 29, 2008 by Bob Collins (8 Comments)

The Star Tribune had an interesting story today about the theft of flowers from cemeteries; often, it seems, the family of one deceased rips off the flowers to put them on the grave of another deceased. Sweet.

But what caught my attention was the caption that the Star Tribune wrote for the front-page photo:

Stolen flowers is one problem at cemeteries. Another is excessive clutter. On Wednesday, manager Dan Kantar of Mound Cemetery in Brooklyn Center made the rounds, picking up leftover garbage.

Let's take a closer look at that garbage ...

The U.S. flag code might disagree with the caption writer, not to mention the method of disposal. The flag is never considered garbage.

Comments (8)

k. 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.

Well officer, I felt it was no longer a fitting emblem.

Posted by Jim | May 29, 2008 1:58 PM

Flag looks in good shape to me except for the way it is being held... and I'm also guessing it wasn't destroyed in dignified way. First clue: the way it is being held.
as for a fitting emblem, the winds of Minnesota seem to destroy flags quite quickly, yet I see many torn, tattered, weather weary "emblems" flying over schools, government buildings, etc.
Well officer, what can we do about that?

Posted by Minn whaler | May 29, 2008 5:49 PM

Well, it sure beats writing on the flag.

Posted by Onan | May 30, 2008 11:46 AM

I sure found this part interesting:

I.The flag should never be used for advertising purposes in any manner whatsoever. It should not be embroidered on such articles as cushions or handkerchiefs and the like, printed or otherwise impressed on paper napkin or boxes or anything that is designed for temporary use and discard. Advertising signs should not be fastened to a staff or halyard from which the flag is flown.

Posted by Chris | May 30, 2008 12:21 PM

While I was on vacation, I thought I saw a News Cut entry on the Republican apparel, but now I can't find it.

A picture (or maybe it was in the Strib), showed a little girl all decked out in Stars n Stripes. There was no question it was made to look like a flag.

That use of the flag, I believe, would violate the code.

I think ties that look like the American flag do, too.

Posted by Bob Collins | May 30, 2008 1:03 PM

who is it that uses the american flag in their logo-calvin klein or ralph laren?

Posted by c | May 30, 2008 2:18 PM

Bob,

Typical media taking a story out of context and trying to do a story that was not there. The flag was not in the garbage you are referring to but in the hand of cemetery Manager for safe keeping until Memorial Day 2009. Get your facts straight before you print a story.

Posted by Dan Kantar | July 19, 2008 7:25 AM

Read the post again, Dan. It referred to the characterization in the Strib as garbage.

I never said anything about the cemetery manager. I specifically mentioned the caption writer.

that's a fact.

Posted by Bob Collins | July 19, 2008 10:29 AM

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