Retiring a Flag With Honor

In accordance with the U.S. Flag Code disposal guidelines, it is stated that:

"The Flag should be destroyed in a dignified way, preferably by burning."

One Final Tour of Duty

At Smith Family Funeral Homes we put a barrel in the foyer of each of our locations to allow patrons to bring their flags to us for retirement. With this program, we make sure that each flag entrusted to us is retired in accordance with the proper disposal guidelines.

When a Veteran chooses to be cremated, we take a flag from the barrel and drape it over them. That way, both the Veteran and the flag are cremated together for one final tour of duty.

One star from the flag is cut off beforehand and affixed to a certificate that is then presented to the Veteran's family.