Marin Vets Want Your Worn-Out American Flags, San Anselmo

San Anselmo and Fairfax residents whose flags may have seen better days are being asked to retire them come Flag Day, and a local veterans group is offering to help.

For American flag owners in Marin County who may need to remove them from display due to weathering, the Marin County United Veterans Council will be accepting the "Old Glory's" on Tuesday, June 14.

Council officials said owners of tattered flags will be able to drop them off to volunteers in front of the military monuments at the Marin County Civic Center located at 10 Avenue of the Flags in San Rafael from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. That's just off Civic Center Drive in front of the Marin Veterans Memorial Auditorium, north of the Marin County Civic Center.

"As much as our veterans love to see a flag flying, there comes a time when a flag is no longer fit for display," said Novato resident Ray Mullin, president of the council.

According to the council, there's a certain way American Flags should be properly disposed. They described the process as such:

Traditional military etiquette dictates that an American flag made of cotton or wool should be folded in a customary manner before being burned in a large fire. Witnesses should come to attention, salute the flag, recite the Pledge of Allegiance and have a moment of silence. Ashes from flag burnings should be buried. Flags made of synthetic material should be recycled because burning them creates hazardous gases.

If you can't make it out on Flag Day, fag owners can also bring their worn stars and stripes to the council's booth during the Marin County Fair, which is set to take place between June 30 and July 4 at the Marin County Fairgrounds in San Rafael.

“The flag is a symbol of the men and women who gave their all for our freedom,” said Sean Stephens, the Marin County Veterans Service Officer. “Please show your respect by replacing your flags before they become tattered.”

– Bay City News Service contributed to this report.