Breach of etiquette: American flags found among discarded items after St. George cemetery cleanup

American flags and other graveside items are discarded during a recent cleanup of Tonaquint Cemetery, St. George, Utah, June 20, 2022 | Photo courtesy of Brittany LeBlanc, St. George News

ST. GEORGE — Following an email from a concerned citizen that included photos regarding proper handling of the American flags in the St. George City Cemetery after Memorial Day, the breach in protocol was addressed by the city of St. George.

Funeral decorations, mementos and other graveside items are discarded during a recent scheduled cleanup of Tonaquint Cemetery, St. George, Utah, June 20, 2022 | Photo courtesy of Brittany LeBlanc, ST. George News

A reader-submitted email describing a large pile of American flags, flowers and other items that were “simply thrown on the ground in a trash pile” after being removed from the gravesites caught the attention of St. George News – prompting a call to the City of St. George.

The reader stated they were at Tonaquint Cemetery to feed the ducks, as they do every Sunday, and as they made their way to the pond, they noticed a large pile of items on the ground near the cemetery maintenance shed.

The items included artificial flowers, plaques, Mother’s Day gifts and so on, as well as numerous small  American flags affixed to a stick. The reader also stated the items “shouldn’t have been there,” as if they were discarded in a large trash pile, adding the images were both “disturbing and heartbreaking.”

St. George News reached out to David Cordero, spokesperson for the City of St. George, who said the artificial flowers, posters and other items placed near the headstones are removed during scheduled cleanups conducted at each of the city’s cemeteries.

Cordero explained these cleanups occur three times per year, which is when any temporary memorials, flags and other items are removed from the grounds.

According to the city’s website, these periodic cleanups typically occur on the second Monday in January, the third Monday after Memorial Day and the first Monday of October. Each is announced in the city’s utility bills and disclosed by on-site signage or may be advertised in the local newspaper to alert patrons to the upcoming event.

Funerary decorations, mementos and other graveside items are removed from the cemetery grounds during a recent scheduled cleanup of Tonaquint Cemetery, St. George, Utah, June 20, 2022 | Photo courtesy of Brittany LeBlanc, ST. George News

These maintenance operations focus on improving navigation through aisles and enhancing the overall appearance of the sites. Similarly, temporary memorials may be removed without notice should they become unsightly or pose a safety hazard, as determined by the sexton.

As to the handling of the flags, and those that ended up in a pile on the ground, Cordero said that is another matter entirely.

“A breach in our flag etiquette was brought to our attention,” he said. “We have addressed it with staff and will do better in the future.”

According to the federal Flag Code, the American Flag should not touch anything beneath it, including the ground – to protect the flag from becoming damaged or soiled.

The statute also applies to flags affixed to a stick, such as those placed on the headstones at Arlington National Cemetery, where every year, the 3rd U.S. Infantry Regiment, or Old Guard, places a flag at each of the 228,000 headstones by inserting the stick exactly one boot length from the base of the headstone in honor of those fallen heroes.

The tradition is known as “Flags In,” and following Memorial Day, the flags are removed and stored before the cemetery reopens to the public.

Treatment of ‘Old Glory’ goes federal 

The flag of the United States of America was born on June 14, 1777, about a year after the Declaration of Independence was signed. But it would be another 160 years or so before Congress enacted the “National Flag Code” in 1942, when the use, display and disposal of an American flag was codified into federal law under Title 4 of the United States Code, according to Legion.org.

A soldier joins others with the 3rd U.S. Infantry Regiment, or Old Guard, to place a flag at each of the 228,000 headstones prior to Memorial Day, Arlington National Cemetery, Arlington, Virg., date not specified | Photo courtesy of the Arlington National Cemetery, St. George News

Under federal law, it is custom to display the flag only from sunrise to sunset on buildings or on flag staffs that are out in the open; however, the flag may be displayed twenty-four hours a day if it is properly illuminated during the hours of darkness.

The code also states the flag “should be hoisted briskly and lowered ceremoniously,” and should not be displayed in inclement weather unless the flag is designed for that purpose.

Once a flag has served its purpose, the “Flag Code” suggests “it should be destroyed, preferably by burning,” which for individual citizens means it can be done discreetly to prevent it from being perceived as a protest or desecration.
One misconception is if the flag does touch the ground, it does not have to be destroyed, as long as it is still suitable for display, even if it has to be washed beforehand.

The flag also should be displayed daily on or near the main administration building of every public institution, every polling location during an election and every schoolhouse when students are attending.

The statute also says that no other flag or pennant should be placed above or, if on the same level, to the right of the flag.

Many American Legion posts conduct disposal of unserviceable flag ceremonies on Flag Day, which falls on June 14, and these ceremonies are particularly dignified and solemn occasions for the retirement of unserviceable flags. To find an American Legion post, click here.
Humanity’s long history of decorating gravesites 

During the Stone Age, the dead would be buried and a great stone or boulder rolled atop the grave. These stones were called gravestones and their purpose was to prevent the deceased from rising after death, according to Funerals360.

Stock image by SilverV/iStock/Getty Images Plus, St. George News

Later, the ancient tradition of placing grave goods near burial sites began in Greece roughly 3,000 years ago, and the ancient Romans believed that spirits continued to dwell around their grave sites, according to WorldHistory.org.

So, to mollify their ancestors, they placed flowers and ornaments around grave sites, and in years to come, flowers were used flowers to pay respect to fallen soldiers.

Some even believe the flowers were used to kill the odor associated with death.

In the United States, the tradition gained recognition after the death of Abraham Lincoln, when his remains were carried across the country by train, and as it continued from city to city, it made many stops to allow citizens to pay their respects.

Many brought giant bouquets, trinkets and odd decorations to lay near the casket to express their profound grief over Lincoln’s death, and soon, the graves of the thousands of fatally wounded soldiers were adorned with flowers following the Civil War.

Then, in 1868, Gen. John Alexander Logan, the leader of the Grand Army of the Republic, designated May 30 as “Decoration Day” – the day designated for “decorating the graves of comrades who died in defense of their country,” and is now known as  Memorial Day.

This report is based on statements from residents and city officials and may not contain the full scope of findings. 

Photo gallery  

Copyright St. George News, SaintGeorgeUtah.com LLC, 2022, all rights reserved.

Free News Delivery by Email

Would you like to have the day's news stories delivered right to your inbox every evening? Enter your email below to start!