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Flag Day Ceremonies Held Throughout U.S. To Properly Dispose Of Old "Old Glory"

PHILADELPHIA (CBS) -- Ceremonies are taking place all over the country Tuesday to properly dispose of old American Flags that have been collected throughout the year.

It's not hard to determine if the red, white and blue has seen better days, according to Timothy Langford, Assistant Director of Education for the American Legion.

"A flag that has become very, very faded," Langford says. "You should also look for signs that the flag has become tattered and torn overall that the appearance of the flag has become degraded just by the elements."

He says a tattered American Flag must be burned, not thrown in the trash. The legion holds a ceremony where volunteers explains where the flags have flown then present them for disposal.

"They recommend that they be honorably retired from further service," Langford says. "And at that time there will be a speech about the importance of the flag, and then the flags will be committed to the fire that has been built for proper disposal."

He says flags are collected all year, but the ceremonies normally take place on Flag Day, June 14.

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