Henrico American Legion Post, Virginia War Memorial offer proper disposal of American flags

For the fourth consecutive year, the Virginia War Memorial is teaming with the American Legion to collect and properly dispose of old, worn and soiled American flags.

From Monday, Nov. 6 through Monday, Dec. 4, any person, organization, group or business with an American flag or flags in poor condition can bring them to the Virginia War Memorial at 621 South Belvidere Street in Richmond. The flags will be collected and properly retired as part of a formal ceremony conducted by members of American Legion Post 84 in Henrico County.

“We began offering this public service program in November 2013 and have been extremely pleased with the public response,” said Jim Triesler, the Virginia War Memorial's education director. “In the past four years, nearly 3,000 old and worn American flags have been collected. Many of those who brought flags told us they were grateful to have the opportunity to have their old flags disposed of in a proper and dignified manner.”

Flags are collected at the War Memorial during November to coincide with the annual Commonwealth’s Veterans Day Ceremony on Saturday, Nov. 11. This year, the Veterans Day Ceremony will be held at Dogwood Dell in Richmond’s Byrd Park due to limited parking at the Memorial while construction is underway for the new addition and expanded Shrine of Memory.

Collection bins will be located in the McMurtrie Grand Lobby of the Memorial’s Paul and Phyllis Galanti Education Center. The Galanti Center is open Monday-Saturday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. and on Sunday from noon to 4 p.m.

For details about the Virginia War Memorial’s worn American flag collection program, call (804) 786-2060 or visithttp://www.vawarmemorial.org or http://facebook.com/virginiawarmemorial.