12,000 American Flags Found in Trash after Dem Convention

[nativetexan]

John McCain’s campaign prepared to accuse Democrats on Saturday of leaving behind 12,000 miniature American flags after Barack Obama’s nomination acceptance speech last Thursday in Denver.

Boy Scouts have arrived with 84 trash bags full of bundles of flags at the site of a McCain rally scheduled to begin at 12:30 p.m. local time in Colorado Springs.

The campaign says the flags were recovered from Invesco Field after the Democrats concluded their convention there, and they are going to be used as part of the warm-up ceremonies before McCain takes the stage for the rally.

FOX News has been told a vendor at Invesco Field found the flags, which were going to be thrown out, and turned them over to the McCain campaign.

Veterans in Colorado Springs are expected to distribute the flags to the audience at the rally.

Obama has faced questions about his patriotism since the beginning of the Democratic primary, and has set up a Web site specifically designed to fight such charges.

The McCain campaign has denied questioning Obama’s patriotism, and even released a statement Friday calling Obama’s most recent comments on the matter “hysterical.”

Obama said Friday that Republicans are trying to make the election a personality contest, and that “what they’re really saying is ‘we’re going to try to scare people about Barack. So we’re going to say that you know, ‘Maybe he’s got Muslim connections or we’re going to say that, you know, he hangs out with radicals or he’s not patriotic.’”

It’s unclear exactly what Democratic convention organizers should have done with their used flags after Obama’s nomination acceptance speech. U.S. Code says the proper method for disposing of an American flag is actually burning, provided it is “no longer a fitting emblem for display.”

The United States Flag Store, which sells full-sized and miniature flags, says on its Web site that flags can also be put in the trash, when they are “worn, damaged or tattered beyond repair.”

http://elections.foxnews.com/2008/09/06/mccain-camp-to-chastise-dems-for-discarding-american-flags/

[wtnhunt]

Heard part of this story a little earlier today when I came in to eat lunch. Amazing that many people would not know what to do with a flag other than discard them in such a way. What a disgrace.

[bobw]

Bad,bad

Bad News,,, Shows How Much They Care About The Greatest Flag In The World Except For Votes...

[nativetexan]

Unfortunately I think this is all too common. I can't remember how many of those window flag things I picked up off the side of the road after 9/11.

In fact, my father in law has a weather beaten flag in front of his house and my wife mentioned he needed a new one. He said he would have gotten one by now, but he didn't want to just throw it away. I told him to take it to his local VFW post and they will dispose of it properly.

That is probably what will happen with these 12,000 flags. Thanks Dems for giving our VFW members something to be proud of with the honor of disposing of these flags. Hopefully, they will gather the boy scouts to assist with it. Good learning experience. They will NEVER forget having to dispose of so many flags.

Realistically, I would keep them for other occassions also if they are still in good shape after this next thing in Colorado Springs.

[johnf]

Obama has faced questions about his patriotism since the beginning of the Democratic primary, and has set up a Web site specifically designed to fight such charges

If you have to make a web-sight proving your "really a patriot" isn't that in itself saying something?

[nativetexan]

Actions are cheap anymore John. It's easier to set up a website to prove your patriotism rather than actually proving it by actions. Sickening eh?

[toddyboman]

l VFW post and they will dispose of it properly.

Just out of curiosity what is the proper procedure of disposing of a flag???

Realistically, I would keep them for other occassions also if they are still in good shape after this next thing in Colorado Springs.

Yeah I hope common sense came in to play and they kept the flags for something else......Heck give them away to people.

[slugshooter]

Just out of curiosity what is the proper procedure of disposing of a flag???

Yeah I hope common sense came in to play and they kept the flags for something else......Heck give them away to people.

From what I remember, you are supposed to cut the blue square out, and then cut each of the stripes into it's own strip, and then burn the items. I am sure there are plenty of sites out there with the exact details.

[hammerforged]

I have no words (that I can use here) to express how angry and hurt I am over this blatant display of disrespect these individuals have shown for our Flag.

[wtnhunt]

Yeah I hope common sense came in to play and they kept the flags for something else......Heck give them away to people.

From what I managed to hear on this story yesterday if I heard right, the McCain camp was possibly going to use the flags at a veterans memorial.

[nativetexan]

Sounds like both of them need to be schooled up on the Flag code...Apparently McCain autographed one of them. Which is against the flag code. Bush also.

All you need to know:

http://www.ushistory.org/betsy/flagetiq.html

Flag Disposal:

Ceremony of Final Tribute:

1. Only one flag should be used in the ceremony, which is representative of all the flags to be burned in the service. The remainder of the flags collected should be incinerated. A corporate, government, or military incinerator or furnace can usually be found for this purpose.
   
2. The ceremony should be conducted out-of-doors, preferably in conjunction with a campfire program, and it should be very special.
   
3. The ceremony involves two color guards, one for the flag currently in use and a special color guard for the flag to be retired from service. Of course, this may be adapted if conditions necessitate.
   
4. Just before sunset the flag which has been flying all day is retired in the normal ceremonial procedure for that location or group.
   
5. The color guard responsible for the flag receiving the final tribute moves to front and center. The leader should present this color guard with the flag which has been selected for its final tribute and subsequent destruction. The leader should instruct the color guard to "hoist the colors."
   
6. Leader comments: (when the flag has been secured at the top of the pole)
   "This flag has served its nation well and long. It has worn to a condition in which it should no longer be used to represent the nation."
   
   
   "This flag represents all of the flags collected and being retired from service today. The honor we show here this evening for this one flag, we are showing for all of the flags, even those not physically here."
   
   
7. The leader should:
   • Call the group to attention;
     
     
   • Order a salute;
     
     
   • Lead the entire group in the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag; and
     
     
   • Order the flag retired by the color guard.
     
     
   • Slowly and ceremoniously lower and then respectfully fold the flag in the customary triangle. Deliver the flag to the leader and then dismiss the group.

[*]This concludes the Ceremony of Final Tribute

"Ceremonial Burning"

Fire Preparation:

It is important that the fire be sizable -- preferably having burnt down to a bed of red hot coals to avoid bits of the flag being carried off by a roaring fire -- yet be of sufficient intensity to ensure complete burning of the flag.

Flag Preparation:

The color guard assigned to the flag opens up it tri-corner fold and then refolds the flag in a coffin-shaped rectangle.

When all is ready:

1. Assemble around the fire. The leader calls the group to attention.
   
2. The color guard comes forward and places the flag on the fire.
   
3. All briskly salute.
   
4. After the salute, but while still at attention, the leader should conduct a respectful memorial service as the flag burns. National Flag Foundation recommends singing "God Bless America" followed by an inspiring message of the flag's meaning followed by the "Pledge of Allegiance" and then silence.
   
5. When the flag is basically consumed, those assembled, with the exception of the leader and the color guard, should be dismissed single file and depart in silence.
   
6. The leader and the color guard remain until the flag is completely consumed.
   
7. The fire should then be safely extinguished and the ashes buried.

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Copyright © 1996-2008 by the Independence Hall Association

[FireStrut]

WOW. I guess to some people patriotism is something you can turn on and off when you want to.

[oldksnarc]

WOW. I guess to some people patriotism is something you can turn on and off when you want to.

Surely not!?!? Surely there are not people out there who are patriotic only when convenient, only recently proud to be American, or who have served and sacrificed their whole life.

[toddyboman]

Thanks for the info

[Texan_Til_I_Die]

Liberals think the Constitution is a disposable item, why wouldn't they feel the same about the flag?

[dlriggins]

This is unacceptable the flag is a symbol of our great nation, it just goes to show you where the democrats plan to put our nation.

Just a reminder. If you do choose to purchase a new flag PLEASE BUY AMERICAN. Made in China on an American flag is an outrage in itself in my opinion.

[Strut10]

Liberals think the Constitution is a disposable item, why wouldn't they feel the same about the flag?

How dare you question Obama's or Hillary's patriotism!!!!!

[stevebeilgard]

well, at least they had flags at the convention. more than i expected. but not on obama.

[slugshooter]

While I understand the sentiment behind the disposal of the flag at the DNC, I am sure that the workers cleaning up in St. Paul had their share to pick up as well.

[Strut10]

While I understand the sentiment behind the disposal of the flag at the DNC, I am sure that the workers cleaning up in St. Paul had their share to pick up as well.

I doubt it...........otherwise it'd have been headlined on every major tv news network and above the fold in all the papers........much unlike the mass media hush on the dems doing it.