What's that red box in downtown Murphy, NC for?
As you go through downtown Murphy, NC you might have noticed that red mailbox. Well, you might be wondering what it's for and we've had people ask us too. That red mailbox was put there by the Marine Corps League and is where your old United States flag can be placed for retirement.
When the United States flag (Old Glory) becomes worn, torn, faded or badly soiled, its time to replace it with a new flag, and the old flag should be "retired" with all the dignity and respect befitting our nation's flag. Flags are collected and on each July 4th in Murphy, NC down at the park, there is a special ceremony held.
The US flag should be treated with respect when it's flying, and should be treated with respect when it's being retired. Therefore, we retire flags with dignity and respect when they become worn, torn, faded or badly soiled. A flag ceases to be a flag when it is cut into pieces. A flag should never be thrown out in the trash. It should be cut up with scissors in a methodical method. In the ceremony they separate the 13 strips that represent the 13 original colonies and the 50 stars to pay homage to the 50 states that together make up this great nation. Then the American flags are ceremoniously burned and then the ashes are buried. The traditional method of retirement is to incinerate the flag, but this does not mean that one should simply drop the entire flag (intact) into a fire.
For more information visit the Marine Corps League of Cherokee County, NC
MAY GOD BLESS THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
Lee & Carol Barbour ~ The Mountain Living Team
www.MurphyMountainLiving.com
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