A Simple Flag Retirement Ceremony

Purpose: Retire a worn flag with respect, teach citizenship
Best For: Pack events, campfires, special ceremonies
Group Size: Small group, pack
Time Needed: 5–10 minutes
Prep Level: Moderate, requires planning and setup
Materials Needed: Worn United States flag, fire (prepared ahead)
Tone: Solemn, respectful
Age Level: Cub Scouts, with adult supervision

Retiring a worn American flag teaches Scouts respect and citizenship. It helps them understand that the flag stands for our country and should be treated with care. This ceremony is simple, but it should be quiet and meaningful.

In this guide, you will learn how to plan and lead a short flag retirement ceremony for Cub Scouts. You will see what to prepare, how to involve Scouts, and what to say during the ceremony.

The Ceremony

Printable Script

More Ceremonies for Scouts

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What Scouts Learn

Download a one page overview of the Flag Retirement Ceremony

Respect
Scouts learn that the American flag should be treated with care. When a flag is worn out, it is retired in a proper way. This helps them understand that the flag stands for our country and our freedom.

Behavior
Scouts learn how to act during a solemn ceremony. They practice being quiet and paying attention. They see that some moments require respect and focus.

Service
Scouts take part in thanking the flag for its service. They learn that small actions can show respect and responsibility. This helps them feel part of something important.

Fire Safety For Cub Scouts

Follow all fire safety rules
Keep a safe distance from the fire
Lions, Tigers, Wolves, and Bears do not start, tend, or add to the fire
Webelos and Arrow of Light Scouts may help with fire safety with close adult supervision

Only adults or older Scouts should place the flag in the fire.

Not All Flags Burn the Same

If the flag is cotton or wool, you may burn it. If it is synthetic, use one of these options.

Some flags are made from nylon or polyester. These materials should not be burned. They can give off harmful smoke.

Instead, you can recycle the flag if a local program accepts it. Some groups collect and process synthetic flags.

You can also cut the flag into pieces so it no longer looks like a flag. Then bury the pieces in a respectful way.

Teach Scouts why this matters. It helps them care for the flag and the environment.

Flag Retirement Ceremony

This simple ceremony is appropriate to teach Cub Scouts how to retire an American flag which has become too worn for service.

Materials:

A United States flag which is no longer suitable for display

fire, prepared ahead of time

Ceremony

MC: We have come together to dispose of a flag which is no longer serviceable. This flag has served as a reminder of our nation and those who have defended our freedom. It has served us well.

MC: The United States Flag Code states: “The flag, when it is in such condition that it is no longer a fitting emblem of display, should be destroyed in a dignified way, preferably by burning.”

MC: Please bring the flag forward and display it one last time.

Two Scouts bring the flag forward, unfold it, and hold it so it is properly displayed to the audience. If the flag has a special significance or history, it should be mentioned.

MC: Please join me in the Pledge of Allegiance.

Say the Pledge of Allegiance

MC: Please fold the flag.

The Scouts fold the flag properly. Young Scouts might need assistance from a leader.

MC: We ask that everyone maintain a respectful silence as this flag is retired. Please retire the flag.

A leader places the flag carefully in the fire. The audience waits in silence until the flag is completely consumed by the fire.

MC: Thank you for joining us for this solemn ceremony. God bless America!

Leader Tips:

Practice folding ahead of time
Remind Scouts about behavior before starting
Keep the group small for better focus

Download a one page overview of the Flag Retirement Ceremony Download a printable copy of this simple flag retirement ceremony script

More Resources

What to Do with the Grommets

After a flag retirement ceremony, people often wonder what to do with the small metal grommets. These grommets don’t burn like the rest of the flag, so they are left behind in the ashes. Some people choose to bury them with the ashes. Others give them as keepsakes to veterans or Scouts who helped in the ceremony.

Grommets can also be made into simple items like keychains or neckerchief slides. Some frame them or place them on plaques to remember the event. Whether used as mementos or buried, the goal is to treat them with the same respect shown in the Flag Retirement Ceremony.

How to Fold a US Flag

Folding the US flag the right way shows respect. It’s a skill Scouts should learn and practice. Each step has meaning, and the final shape—a triangle with only the blue field showing—honors those who served our country. Folding the flag properly is part of many Scouting activities, including flag ceremonies and special events.

A flag retirement ceremony also includes this step. Before the flag is retired, it should be folded with care. This teaches Scouts that even when the flag is worn out, it still deserves honor. Folding the flag the right way helps make the ceremony more respectful and meaningful.

Simple Flag Retirement Ceremony

Why Ceremonies are an Important Part of Scouting

More Ceremonies

If you are looking for more ideas like this Flag Retirement Ceremony, check out the Scout ceremonies page on my website. You’ll find simple and meaningful ceremonies for Cub Scouts, Scouts BSA, and other groups.

Ceremonies help mark special moments in Scouting. Whether it’s a flag ceremony, a rank advancement, or a special event, you’ll find helpful tips and scripts here: Scout Ceremonies

Frequently Asked Questions about Flag Retirement Ceremonies

Can Cub Scouts take part in a flag retirement ceremony?

Yes. Cub Scouts can take part, especially Webelos and Arrow of Light Scouts. Younger Scouts can help in simple ways, like folding the flag or standing respectfully.

Does the flag always have to be burned?

No. Burning is the preferred way, but only if the flag is made of natural material like cotton. If it is synthetic, you should use a safer method like recycling or respectful burial.

What should we say during the ceremony?

You don’t need a long speech. A simple explanation, the Pledge of Allegiance, and a moment of silence are enough. You can also share a short message about the flag’s meaning.

Can we retire more than one flag at a time?

Yes, but do it one at a time in the fire. This helps keep the ceremony respectful and calm.

What should we do with the ashes?

Let the fire burn out. Once the ashes are cool, you can bury them in a quiet place.

One Last Salute

A flag retirement ceremony is a special way to say goodbye to a worn or damaged American flag. In Scouting, this is more than just a task. It’s a chance to teach respect, care, and pride in our country. Scouts learn that the flag stands for our freedoms and the people who protect them.

The ceremony is quiet and simple. The flag is shown one last time, then folded with care. Scouts and others say the Pledge of Allegiance. Then the flag is burned in a prepared fire while everyone stays silent. This shows honor and respect.

If the flag is made from synthetic material, it should not be burned. Burning these can be unsafe. Instead, recycle the flag or cut it up so it is no longer a flag. Then it can be buried. This still shows care and respect.

Flag retirement teaches Scouts to treat symbols with honor. It also shows how small acts can carry great meaning.

Posted on

March 12, 2024

Comments

24 responses to “A Simple Flag Retirement Ceremony: Teach Citizenship and Respect”

love

April 19, 2012

love

Reply
becky reed

June 8, 2012

how would you handle multiple (15) flags to retire??

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1. Scouter Mom
  
  June 9, 2012
  
  Burn them one at a time. Wait until the one in the fire has been completely consumed before you add another. We usually do multiple flags. It doesn’t take as long as you might think.
  
  Reply
  1. john
    
    March 23, 2018
    
    but the fire gets really hot
    
    Reply
2. john g sheehan
  
  June 1, 2015
  
  15 pairs of scouts or three ceremonies
  
  Reply
3. Chad Brandt
  
  December 29, 2020
  
  We start with the Pledge of allegiance for the first flag. Also, experience shows that an unfolded flag, draped into the fire carefully, burns more effectively and completely than a folded flag.
  
  Reply
4. Anonymous
  
  June 19, 2021
  
  I’m posting this on the off chance that someone else stumbles across this like I did. I’m sure Ms. Reed had a found a solution to her problem, one way or another, over the last nine years, lol.
  
  In case anyone finds this while looking for information on retiring large numbers of flags, I’m a former boy scout and participated in a few bulk retirings.
  
  In one case we had a large, 3×5 I think, flag, as well as a few dozen little ones. In that case, we did a full retiring for the big flag, and then for the little ones just cut each of them in half and added them to the fire one at a time, one right after the other. I think we had two scouts on that.
  
  Another time we had collected soiled and damaged flags from homes and businesses, so we had a lot of different sizes, ages, and levels of condition, I think around 150 flags, maybe 200. It’s generally recommended when retiring a large number of flags to do one first, and state that it represents all of the flags to be retired that night. The rest can be burned in a commercial or government incinerator. Our troop had a local funeral home donate its crematorium services to incinerate the flags, although some states won’t allow anything but human remains in a crematory, so you’d have to look into that for yourself.
  
  Nylon and polyester flags should not be burned in bulk. One or two is okay if you have to, but synthetic fabrics release a lot of toxic gasses when they burn, and instead of incinerating like cotton and wool, they just kind of melt into this horrible plastic mess.
  Unfortunately no one really has any good suggestions for what to do with synthetic flags. It’s actually becoming a problem as they pile up with no good way to retire them. A few ideas have been floated but none of them really seem to have the same kind of dignity and solemnity of a cremation. There is a company, based in I think Wisconsin, that partners with a veteran-owned recycling company in Georgia. They send him synthetic flags 10,000 lbs at a time and after meticulously cleaning the machinery out of respect for the flags, he feeds them into a machine that renders them down into “virgin nylon”, a white nylon sludge completely unrecognizable as having ever been a flag. There is some controversy apparently over whether this process actually counts as respectful and dignified, but it seems to me like the best available option. The rest just amount to busy work and/or pollution.
  
  Reply
  1. Kelley Engstrom
    
    April 3, 2024
    
    Thank you! I did stumble upon this post as I have always taken mine to the VFW but I own a race track (youth karting) and we have a “Flag Day” race coming up and want to do this ceremony at the track to teach the kids!! I plan on asking everyone to bring their flags that need to be retired as well.
    
    Reply
5. Chad Brandt
  
  June 15, 2023
  
  You can use the same ceremony, but it requires some editing.
  
  I have consulted with scout leaders on whether or not it is appropriate to drape a flag into the fire rather than folding it. This saves some time because it takes so long for a folded flag to burn. Not everyone agrees with this, but several scout leaders whom I respect have signed off on *carefully* draping successive flags into the fire. In this manner, you can respectfully retire multiple flags in one ceremony. We unfurl them all at once, and say the pledge of allegiance to them all at once. The flags are then retired in turn with a senior scout or adult leader tending them such that they catch and are consumed by the fire. The tender also silently signals, counterclockwise around the fire, for the next scout to approach. Our more senior scouts are very practiced at this, and they assist younger scouts to ensure that it is done respectfully and safely. We have retired as many as 15 flags in a single ceremony using this approach. At summer camp, over the course of a week, we usually retire 50 to 70 flags over several evenings.
  
  We use the multiple flag ceremony for when we have more than about 4-6 flags. For fewer than 4 to 6 flags, we fold them. The flags are presented, and then folded, at the same time, and then placed into the fire successively.
  
  Reply
Ellen

September 2, 2012

We are new to the scouts and our ceremony is next week. This experience and meaning will be unforgettable and we are looking forward to it.
Will the scout earn an emblem for this?

Reply
1. Marlin Bartholomew
  
  April 7, 2017
  
  Usually after the fire has cooled we retrieve the brass grommets from the ashed and brush then clean. The Scouts who retired the flag are allowed to wear the grommet on a paracord necklace.
  
  Reply
Scouter Mom

September 4, 2012

There is no special emblem that I am aware of, but it might help them with requirements, depending on what rank they are. See the list at the bottom of the article.

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Calapooia Scouter

September 18, 2012

Great ceremony – but keep in mind that a folded flag will take longer to burn. And please be sure to read the Guide to Safe Scouting, for use of fires and fire starters (chemicals). Keep it safe, have lots of fun!

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Debbie Gamble

November 1, 2012

Just what I needed for Webelos den meeting next week. Thank you!

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Frank Giels

November 3, 2012

We have witnessed two retirement ceremonies in the last month. The first was conducted by our long time scoutmaster at an overnighter in Metairie, La. The second at our SE La. Council fall encampment at Salmen Scout Reservation in South Miss. It was amazing to witness, and with 1000 or so cub scouts and that many more parents and leaders, you could have heard a pin drop as the giant flag was retired. Truly a humbling and patriotic memory. The scoutmaster at the first said the fire must be allowed to burn itself out, and stayed up most of the night tending it. The reading of “I am your flag” at the second was a true educational and emotional experience for all.

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Frank Giles

November 3, 2012

spelled my name wrong…oops

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Frank Baum

November 8, 2012

Also remember to have the Scouts stand far enough back when burning colors made of man-made materials — far enough back, keeping them upwind, that they don’t breathe the noxious fumes produced.

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Kristen

March 4, 2013

What about a state flag? Anyone have any clues? We asked for donations of flags from the fire dept and they gave both US and CA flags. Also, for anyone planning a ceremony, I called our local VFW and they are sending veterans out to help with the ceremony and to speak about the flag. I think it will be really nice.

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Bill

March 8, 2014

Our pack has any veterans (leaders or parents) that are present, help with the ceremony.

Reply
John Cutrone

March 1, 2016

Retired US Navy Chief looking for a simple way to retire our flag with the grandkids. This is perfect. Thanks

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Ben

May 17, 2016

You may want to check out Retire the Stripes, they offer a flag retirement kit you can order and then just ship off in the mail, this predominately for people where it’s tough to get a burn permit or something.

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Faith

February 10, 2017

GREAT it is simple, respectful, and educational! Thanks

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Scouter Donn

May 12, 2017

As a life long scouter this is one of my favorite services to scouting, so I will share my 411 as people have shared with me. Remember this is a flag retirement service, not a ceremony. Remember that you are coming together to RETIRE this flag, not dispose of it. Also we need to explain to the audience that we are not burning the flag in disrespect as most people see on television.
Lastly, if you are a scout unit and you do the Baden-Powell ashes opening fire ceremony you are not supposed to collect the ashes of a campfire with a retired flag in it, though it is not “law” and I think it adds to the respect of the ashes.
Keep the honor and spirit alive in this!

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scouter

July 12, 2017

I believe you have to cut it too

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