Posts start U.S. flag disposal service at landfills

Ed Hall was at the Alpha Ridge Landfill in Marriottsville, Md., last summer when he witnessed two people about to throw away 18 U.S. flags of various sizes. He yelled for them to stop, identified himself as a retired U.S. Marine colonel and current American Legion post commander, and rescued the flags from being improperly disposed of.

"They were apologetic and had no idea what the etiquette was for retiring a flag properly," said Hall, commander of Post 156 in Ellicott City, Md. "This is the symbol of America, and it should not be thrown into the trash."

Saving American flags from the trash and educating community members about flag etiquette sparked an idea for Hall – to place an American flag disposal container at the Alpha Ridge Landfill.

Hall worked with the Howard County Commission for Veterans and Military Families to put his idea into action and on Veterans Day 2015, Alpha Ridge Landfill became the first in Maryland to install a flag retirement station. An unused mail box was painted red with American Legion Post 156 flag retirement signage and placed at the landfill’s entrance.

Since the flag retirement station’s dedication last November, 522 U.S. flags have been collected and properly retired by members of Post 156.

"There is an awareness that is sweeping Howard County and expanding beyond that there is a final chapter in the lifespan of an American flag and that it should not be disposed of," Hall said. "The flag disposal service certainly has increased public awareness of The American Legion and our commitment to proper U.S. flag etiquette."

Members of Post 156 visit the landfill weekly and collect up to 30 flags during each visit. The success of the flag retirement station at Alpha Ridge Landfill has led to the installation of a second one, and for the landfill to remind visitors about the flag service on its digital billboard.

"Our program has proven to be very successful, and we are extremely proud of it," said Bob Lowell, judge advocate for Post 156. "We are providing a very well-appreciated service to the residents of Howard County, and ensuring proper U.S. flag retirement etiquette."

Installing a U.S. flag disposal container at a landfill also was initiated by Post 18 in Springfield, Vt., and Post 84 in White River Junction, Vt.

Post 18 Adjutant C. William Mattoon was approached by staff from Springfield Recycling Center about collecting unserviceable American flags for proper retirement. Mattoon took the initiative and purchased a large trash bin with a lid, taped flag retirement signage to it with Post 18’s information, attached a small U.S. flag to the bin’s handle, and placed it in a visible area at the recycling center.

Mattoon visits the recycling center weekly to collect the flags, which has totaled to several hundred over the past year.

The flag retirement service "has given the post some visibility to the community, and I have had several comments thanking me for a place to dispose of the flags," Mattoon said. "Utilizing the recycle center was the easiest and most logical place to place the container."

Vermont 5th District Commander Larry Green said Post 84 collected 50 American flags within the first two months of the post placing a flag disposal box at the local landfill.

With the flag retirement service offered at landfills, "not only is (Post 84) getting good public relations with the community, it’s giving publicity to The American Legion as a whole," Green said. "Everything about the flag drop-off box is good."