Kingston, NY - Ken Ronk, Chairman of the Ulster County Legislature, announced that a flag disposal box is now available at the Ulster County Office Building in Kingston.    

“The US flag is a symbol of the ideas our country was founded upon, freedom, justice and opportunity for all,” said Ronk, “but when flags become frayed or faded, many people simply don’t know what to do with them.”

 While it is acceptable to wash or dry clean a flag that touches the ground or is soiled, once a flag is no longer fitting to display, it should be destroyed in a dignified way.  

Through a program sponsored by the National Flag Foundation and the National Association of Counties, Chairman Ronk obtained a flag disposal box that will be placed in the lobby of the County Office Building at 244 Fair Street in Kingston.  The lobby is open Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday from 8 am to 5 pm and on Thursdays from 8 am to 6 pm.    

“A US flag should never be tossed in the trash,” said Ronk.  He praised several local organizations including the Elks Club in Kingston and the American Legion in Highland that maintain their own flag collection boxes and hold flag retirement ceremonies throughout the year.

Go to www.nationalflagfoundation.org for more information about the United States flag and how to display and care for it.

 “The 4th of July is one of those times of the year when we show our pride and patriotism by displaying the American Flag” said Ronk. “We want to ensure it is displayed, viewed and even retired with the proper respect it deserves.”

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