DAR ceremonies retire American flag with dignity. 
While we wish all American flags would go on flying for decades, they eventually wear out. According to the United States Code (Title 36, Chapter 176), every flag is entitled to a proper retirement:
“The flag, when it is in such condition that it is no longer a fitting emblem for display, should be destroyed in a dignified way,
preferably by burning”.
The Jane Douglas Chapter of the National Society of the Daughters of the American Revolution, headquartered at Fair Park, is deeply committed to educating the public on not only how to respect the American flag, but also how to retire it properly.
Honor above all.
“There is a correct way and an incorrect way to retire the American flag because it is a venerated object,” explains Jeanette Prasifka, coordinator of the chapter’s flag retirement ceremonies. “Proper retirement calls for burning of the flag in a dignified manner, in a simple ceremony”
According to Ms. Prasifka, before a flag is reduced to ashes, it must first be rendered unrecognizable as a flag. The red and white stripes representing the original thirteen colonies are cut away and separated from the blue Union containing the fifty stars, which represents the states.
The Jane Douglas Chapter uses a metal firebox that Jeanette’s father built specifically for their flag retirement ceremonies. “The stripes are burned first, followed by the burning of the union. Afterwards, the ashes are cooled, removed from the firebox and buried in the ground along with the grommets.”
DAR public flag retirement ceremonies are performed year round.
During the State Fair of Texas, the Jane Douglas chapter conducts public flag retirement ceremonies (also referred to as flag decommissioning ceremonies). Attendants include representatives from the following organizations: Daughters of the American Revolution, Sons of the American Revolution, Children of the American Revolution, Friends of the Texas State Vietnam Memorial (also located at Fair Park), Veterans of Foreign War District 3 Honor Guard, Veterans of Foreign War Dorie Miller Memorial Post, as well as buglers from the United States Marine Drum and Bugle Corps from Washington, D.C. who solemnly play “Taps” at the ceremony’s conclusion.
The Jane Douglas Chapter of the DAR is available to perform flag retirement/decommissioning ceremonies around Dallas throughout the year. Members continuously collect worn or torn flags from homes, schools and businesses as a community service in order to ensure they are retired properly and with the dignity they deserve.
“If you are in possession of a worn flag, we would be honored to retrieve it and have it retired ,” says Jeanette. For more information, contact Jeanette Prasifka at 214-319-9936 or jprasifka@comcast.net.
