Jefferson Davis County will soon be participating in the United States Flag Retirement Program. Every county in Mississippi will be provided a custom flag retirement box as a result of the partnership with the National Association of Counties (NACo) and the Mississippi Association of Supervisors.

“Too many of our residents are unsure of how to care for our flag,” said Jefferson Davis County Veteran’s Administrator Joe Bridges. “This way these flags can be properly retired.”

Citizens can drop their shredded, torn and faded flags in a formal flag retirement box in the Veteran’s office in the Jefferson Davis County Courthouse.

According to Bridges, flags must be cut up and there is a proper ceremony that takes place before they are burned. “You can’t just throw them out.”

Since 2016, the National Association of Counties has provided over 2,000 counties, parishes and boroughs with official flag retirement boxes. Helping residents properly retire worn U.S. flags is consistent with NACo’s commitment to public service and community engagement.

When an American flag becomes worn out or torn, the U.S. Flag Code dictates how to respectfully retire it.