MORRIS COUNTY, NJ – Chatham Township Eagle Scout Collin Goldbach, in coordination with the Morris County Municipal Utilities Authority, has designed and built American Flag disposal boxes to be located at key spots in the county, in an effort to call attention to proper methods of discarding old and worn Stars n’ Stripes.
Goldbach, a member of Scout Troop 121 in Chatham and a senior at Chatham High School, displayed one of his new flag boxes at today’s Morris County Board of Freeholders’ meeting in Morristown, where he briefed the board on his efforts.
Joined by Morris County MUA Executive Director Larry Gindoff and MUA Assistant Operations Manager Mike Nunn, Goldbach explained that as someone who aspires to serve in the U.S. military, he finds it important to treat Old Glory with respect – even in disposal.
“This is a terrific project done by this scout, yet another example of the fine and talented young people we have throughout this county,’’ said Freeholder Director Doug Cabana, who awarded Goldbach with a county certificate for his Eagle Scout status.
Goldbach, who was joined at the Freeholder Board meeting by his parents Dawn and Frank Goldbach, built four of the bright red flag disposal boxes.
Two of the boxes will be located at MUA transfer stations in Parsippany, at 1100 Edwards Road, and in Mount Olive at 168 Goldmine Road. A third will have a home in the county government Administration and Records Building at 10 Court Street in Morristown, and the fourth will be housed at the MUA’s facility at the Dover National Guard Armory at 476 Clinton Avenue.
The goal is to make it more convenient for people to dispose of old and worn flags.
When an American flag becomes worn, faded, torn or soiled, it should be retired and replaced with a new flag. However, it is illegal to throw away the American Flag. The Flag Codes states that it should be destroyed with “with dignity, preferably by burning.”
There are several ways to respectfully dispose of an American flag. The most common method is burning the torn or tattered flag in a special ceremony. This is best done by taking your old flag to one of Morris County’s many American Legion or VFW posts, where veterans and members may then hold a ceremony as they properly retire and dispose of it.
For more information on flag disposal, check out the Veterans of Foreign Wars or American Legion websites.
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By: Jay Edwards Follow on Twitter | Like on Facebook
