Photo by Brandee Smith
By: Sharon Aron Baron
Patriotic citizens that aren’t sure what to do with their damaged or tattered flags now have the perfect way to properly dispose of them without searching for a group to hand them off to.
The U.S. Flag code states that, “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.” Thus, when a flag is torn and tattered beyond repair, it’s time for it to be retired.
Residents in Coral Springs, thanks to a Coral Springs Police officer and former City Commissioner Claudette Bruck now have a “flag drop off box” in front of the Coral Springs Gymnasium at 2501 Coral Springs Drive which resembles a US mailbox allowing them a centralized location to drop off their flags.
“I have always flown the American flag in front of my home, but it’s been hard to find a place to properly dispose of it,” said Bruck who used to take her used flags to the American Legion in Tamarac. However, one day when a Coral Springs Police Officer, who recently vacationed out of state, showed her a photo of a flag drop off box that she had seen on her travels, it peaked her interest. Bruck contacted City Staff who found out more about the manufacturer and ordered it for the City.
According to Ron Stancavage, President of the Veterans Coalition of Coral Springs, “I was there today and was dropping off a couple of flags that someone gave to us from Our Town, and I noticed that the box was full.” He said that the Parks and Recreation Department maintains and empties the box and then gives the flags to the Coalition who will then properly retire them in a ceremony on June 14 which is Flag Day.
“Last year, we filled a 55 gallon drum. We didn’t want to keep everyone, so we let the Parks Department burn the rest of them, so we think we had over 100 flags at the ceremony,” said Stancavage.
“We used to collect the flags but now it’s much easier with the mailbox in front.”
Author Profile
- Editor of Talk Media and writer for Coral Springs Talk. CST was created in 2012 to provide News, Views, and Entertainment for the residents of Coral Springs and the rest of South Florida.
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2 comments
What an awesome idea. I’ll be dropping of my old / damaged flag there tomorrow, after I hang me new one. God Bless America
Actually there has been a drop off mailbox style receptacle in pompano at the American Legion Hall east of Dixie and south of Atlantic for years.
Would love to see Code enforce the rule of lighting flags at night.