Shocked and Speechless at Disrepect

[jimmyj]

My American Legion Post has a box outside for people that has torn/stained/ripped American Flags to drop in for proper disposal by the Post.

Checking the box I discovered a new folded casket Flag that is given to a deceased Veteran's next of kin at funerals.

Someone who was custodian of this Flag dumped it off ??

I will place it in a place of Honor in the Post in memory of an unknown Veteran who served His/Her Country.

 

[Krogen]

Thanks, jimmyj, for placing the flag in a place of honor. You may be right, that someone dumped it with callous disrespect. However, I prefer to think that someone is hurting so bad they can't look at any reminders of their loved one. They did, after all, deliver the flag to a place that would honor it instead of just putting it in the trash. Perhaps it's their way of honoring their loved one. A note along with the flag would have been nice.

 

[biku324]

Lots of people have no clue what a folded flag represents. Alone among 8 grandchildren, my wife was the one who took custody of her grandfather's flag. This happens when so few now serve.

 

[Kevin J.]

My hope is they were cleaning out a home, did not know the individual, and couldn't think of another way to dispose of it without actually throwing it out. That's my hope anyway….

 

[NYlakesider]

JIMMYJ, I believe their intentions were honorable albeit a bit strange. Your group will make good use of this gift. Accept it as such.

My father was a undertaker and I can remember on a few occasions the bereaved family would give the flag to my father as they did not want it for some reason. He would give it to the local VFW post!

 

[Puller]

At least they dropped it off at the American Legion Post rather than the dumpster behind the post office.

 

[Valmet]

At least they dropped it off at the American Legion Post rather than the dumpster behind the post office.

Agreed. To lots of folks they are just tangible things that don't have a significance. Not saying it's right, just stating a basic fact.

 

[bigwheelzip]

No way to know the back-story of the flag, but whoever dropped it off went out of their to way to respect that flag.


Sent from my motorola one 5G using Tapatalk

 

[sigp220.45]

It was their flag to do with as they wished, and they disposed of it properly. Why interfere with that?

 

[Rustyt1953]

It was their flag to do with as they wished, and they disposed of it properly. Why interfere with that?

^^^^THIS!^^^^

 

[Eagle 477]

I have 3 Casket Flags in my Happy Room The first Is From My Uncle Eddy who was a WWII POW when he died the flag Was given to his wife. Since they had no living children, I was the closest to Next of kin so i inherited it.
The Second is My Father's A great Man who survived the Battle of Okinawa
The Third is from a Man was like a brother to me a Vietnam vet that came home so broken that he never really left. Many months in a VA Hospital and so many meds he was never the same His Family Abandoned him because he was so erratic I think I was the only friend he had. Many hours sitting together saying nothing staring into emotionless eyes. I was his family at the funeral, 3 great men. I salute you all.

Rob

 

[BLACKHAWKNJ]

Without knowing anything of the family dynamics I would withhold judgement. One woman I knew, her father was career military, got the full honors at the funeral but they shed no tears for him, quickly went to work erasing his memory.

 

[mckenney99]

Without knowing anything of the family dynamics I would withhold judgement. One woman I knew, her father was career military, got the full honors at the funeral but they shed no tears for him, quickly went to work erasing his memory.

I agree. Sometimes, due to its demands, military service leaves behind broken families who do not wish to remember the pain or anguish of the one lost. At least they gave it to the correct people to see that it was properly disposed of.

 

[Sistema1927]

I have the casket flag from the second funeral I officiated, back in 1990. (He had been a pall bearer at the first, a week prior., thus showing that we never know when our time is up.)

His only survivor was his daughter, and it pained her to look at it. She gave it to me, knowing that it would be well cared for.

 

[Rustyt1953]

My mom still has the flag that draped my dad's casket. She vacuum packed it.

 

[chief38]

Lot's of disrespect these days - just a sign of the times. SAD!

 

[jeffrefrig]

I have my dad's flag. I only have 2 outta 4 sisters left & never had a brother. When I go, I just hope the flag gets respected by someone. I suppose I should get it in my will.

 

[yaktamer]

Not sure how we know it was a casket flag just because it was folded. Could just have belonged to somebody that had a flagpole in their yard and folded it the way they were taught to in scouts. But maybe I'm missing something.

 

[John_M52]

Trying to post a YouTube link to Aaron Lewis "folded flag" but it doesn't seem to work.

Try watching it without tearing up.

 

[mckenney99]

Not sure how we know it was a casket flag just because it was folded. Could just have belonged to somebody that had a flagpole in their yard and folded it the way they were taught to in scouts. But maybe I'm missing something.

Burial/casket flags are a unique size 5ft x 9ft 6in and cotton construction.