As we celebrate the long weekend, graduations and the unofficial beginning of the summer, it’s important to remember the meaning of the holiday. Memorial Day was first enacted as a federal holiday in 1868, at the end of the Civil War, to honor fallen Union soldiers.  After World War I, the scope of holiday was broadened to include all American casualities of any war or military action. On this day we take time to remember & honor all those men and women who have died while serving our country throughout our time as a nation.

As we display American flags in all shapes & sizes to show our gratitude this weekend, many people don’t know that there is a  “United States Flag Code” which details the manner in which the American flag should be displayed and cared for – even in non-public places.  Among the many details of flag maintenance, the Flag Code advises that “the flag, when it is in such condition that it is no longer a fitting emblem of display, should be destroyed in a dignified way, preferably by burning.”

As you pull out your flags for Memorial Day,  the upcoming July 4th holiday, or any time throughout the year,  should you find that your flags are faded, worn, or no longer suited for display, please bring, or send, them to us (no purchase necessary). We regularly collect non-displayable flags and give them to our local Veterans organization for proper disposal.

Finally, we’ve taken some time to photograph some of the many wonderful ways we display American flags on this important holiday. If you click on any of the images on the right side of this site,  you’ll be taken to an entire gallery of American flag images on our Flickr page. We hope you enjoy them!

Wishing you a safe holiday!

Wendy