Disposing of the flag from a soldier's funeral

[Liagala]

I have this flag. It's from my step-father's relative's relative's funeral, going back a couple generations. No one knows exactly who, but whoever he was, he served in some branch of the military or other. Obviously, if I don't even know whose it is, the thing has zero sentimental value. Every time I go to clean out the closet in the spare room I take the thing out, stare at it, move it around a bit, and put it back. I want this thing gone, but I really don't feel right just getting rid of it. Is there some sort of protocol here?

Edit: I know flags should generally be burned. I just wasn't sure if dead-people flags had different rules.

[sobrepasar]

Senorita, contact a Veterans association or some other Veteran's group and see if you can "donate" it. They might just hang it up and put some little plaque near it, and then you can report a good deed to your family.

If not, burn it respectfully. (i.e. not in the streets with a bunch of screaming latinos)

[Androidpk]

Edit: I know flags should generally be burned.

Really?

[RichardCranium]

Really?

Really.

[Androidpk]

I never knew that. I always thought the proper method was to give it to the VA who would dispose of it.

[Sheikh]

The VA does have a magical flag trashcan.

[Asrial]

Old flags are disposed of by burning.

There's a difference between a ceremonial burning and flicking your lighter open at the corner ;)

Liagala, I'd contact a veterans group and see about donating it with as much info about it as you can. Honestly.. it really comes down to how patriotic you are to the lengths you go towards disposal.

Just don't do it in a way that could get you arrested.

If it was me, and if I had absolutely NO desire to do anything short of getting rid of it ASAP, I'd probably donate it to Goodwill with no one around to see me drop it off.

However, if it was me, I would get it into someone more official to deal with.

Another option might be to give it to a high school ROTC class.

[Delias]

I never knew that. I always thought the proper method was to give it to the VA who would dispose of it.

Nope, the proper method to dispose of most things is fire.

[Drew]

Nope, the proper method to dispose of most things is fire.

bye bye pubic hair

[Buckwheet]

Count the number of stars. It might make a difference if you decide to get rid of it.

I have a 48 star from the same sort of circumstance.

[Lord Orbstar]

The flag is probably all tattered and only has thirteen stars sewn in a circle from great great grandma Ross ...

[Makkah]

Dude can't count to 50... let's be serious.

[username]

Take it to the American legion, or VFW. Those old dudes love them some old flags.