Whitley County providing new option for proper flag disposal

Do you have a tattered old American flag that you replaced or one that needs to be replaced, and you just don’t know how to retire it properly?

The Kentucky Association of Counties recently delivered a flag disposal box to the old Whitley County Courthouse.

Thanks to the Whitley County Fiscal Court, the Kentucky Association of Counties (KACo), and the National Association of Counties (NACo), this is no longer a problem.

In partnership with the National Association of Counties and the National Flag Foundation, Whitley County has installed a flag retirement box, which is sponsored by the Kentucky Association of Counties.

The box is of no cost to the county and has been placed on the second floor of the old courthouse in Williamsburg. Flags should be folded respectfully before being placed in the box.

“We want to promote flag awareness and to talk about flags and the proper way to retire them after they have been flown at different residences and commercial buildings, courthouses or other installations,” said Brian S. Roy, Executive Direction/CEO of the Kentucky Association of Counties.

“We found there was a need for people to have an opportunity to find a way to properly retire a flag. Most people don’t know. Of course as you can see here in Whitley County the flag is definitely a proud symbol of the community,” Roy said noting the large American flags on display at the entrances to the old Whitley County Courthouse.

The United States Flag Code calls for the American flag to be destroyed in a dignified way – preferable by burning – when it is in such condition that it is no longer a “fitting emblem of display.”

Roy noted that Whitley County Judge-Executive Pat White Jr. has been talking to some Boy Scout and Eagle Scout groups about taking on the task of properly disposing of the collected flags.

“Until then they can be stored in these boxes and be respected and honored and treated the way we all want them to be treated,” Roy added.

This is the first year that the Kentucky Association of Counties has done this project, and they are providing flag disposal boxes to all 120 counties across the state.

Roy said that the response to the initiative has been great.

“Every community has had excellent response. They have all talked about the need for this type of program. A lot of people just don’t know how to retire a flag respectfully,” Roy said. “Now we have a place for them to take them down, bring them in, and get them taken care of properly and respectfully.”

White noted that he has personally heard of people in our community that don’t know how to properly retire a worn flag.

“We’re excited to offer this opportunity to our community. I appreciate KACo making this outreach to the communities and coming down here and trying to help us put together a program to properly honor our flag,” White added.