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does anyone know where i can buy a nice, natural fiber, well stitched flag that isnt the run-of-the-mill "painted nylon" flags they have everywhere? I really want a one that is excellent quality.

Hmm, I dunno... tossing it in the washer/dryer sounds pretty American to me. :)

If you contact your state senator you can get a US flag that has been flown over the Capitol Building. It will come with a certification from the Architect of the Capitol that it was flown over the Capitol Building on X date. The flags are high quality with embroidered stars and made in the USA. Generally there is a form on the Senator's website under "Constituent Services" to order one. It's about $20 for a 3x5 and you can get cotton or nylon.

I VERY much appreciate that you investigated the CORRECT procedure(s) for washing an American flag.

"Tossing in in the washer/dryer sounds pretty American to me" is disrespectful, IMHO. I really hope you brush up on the requirements of the display, care, treatment, and proper disposal for the American flag! It's the same uneducated response to 9/11 when people hung out flags in all sorts of inappropriate ways.

Please DON'T get me wrong - I don't mean to take you personally to task. I am not a flaming right-winged patriotic soul. Hardly. I was at the first peace march in Washington DC against the Viet Nam war and many more since.

Yet, I vote religiously (as in every single election), as a family tradition I have a copy of the Declaration of Independence posted in my apartment, I have studied the Constitution at length, and after the first time I left the US and returned, I have a valued appreciation of our flag, our national anthem (which is not the song before a ballgame starts), etc.

In fact, I learned about the proper care and display about the American flag when our family prepared to display our flag, properly outlined in black bunting when President Kennedy was assasinated. My father and I researched this. It was a true education.

Sarahrae, thank you for a very meaningful post.

Magnolia, your post was spot on. Many thanks.

Magnolia, I completely agree! It is disrespectful to just toss it in the washer. I know all about how to properly handle, store, and care for the American Flag. You absolutely MUST learn it, if you work at a Girl Scouts of the USA camp... it's seriously right up their with knowing how to perform CPR.

The reason I made the comment is because I've known many people (mostly family members... who, ironically, are all Republican... I'm the only one who's not.) who just treat it like any other piece of fabric. Because duh, that's why they made washing machines! For our convenience! Because if they could so conveniently buy it for a couple bucks at K-Mart then they should be able to conveniently toss it in the wash!
Yeah... it's sad that most people I knew growing up (oh yes, including my family) were and still are pretty uneducated.

"... Yeah... it's sad that most people I knew growing up (oh yes, including my family) were and still are pretty uneducated."

"... it's seriously right up their [sic] with knowing how to perform CPR."


Got to hate those uneducated Republicans :)

MFlick ... what do you mean by natural fiber? Cotton? Try Annin Flag. I'm not sure what you mean by painted flag. Some very inexpensive flags are screen printed, but you can buy a nice sewn flag almost anywhere. Wal-Mart carries Annin and Home Depot carries Valley Forge. The best flags are made of woven polyester mesh---Hercules polyester is a brand name to look for. The fabric lofts out nicely in a slight breeze, but handles high winds very well.

Actually, getting the flag as clean as possible is the best way to treat it. It is perfectly acceptable to launder a flag in the washing machine, but it is best to launder it by itself. Pre-soak if needed with an enzyme treatment, then wash with mild detergent in cool water on a gentle cycle. Best to not dry in a dryer tho ... even at lowest temps, a dryer will have a bit of high heat that is not good for the stitching.

When dry, check it over carefully and see if it needs mending. A good needle and some stout upholstery thread works very well.

But it is good, don't you think, that our American flag is available in all kinds of quality and prices, so each of us can buy one that fits into our budget. I'd be very careful about sneering at someone's "K-Mart" flag; that seems terribly elitist.

i forget, what are you supposed to do if the flag touches the ground?

If it gets muddy or dirty---wash it, or brush it clean---and hang it back up. It is a myth that the flag has to be destroyed if it "touches the ground."

If a flag touches the ground, you are supposed to "respectfully retire" it as in you have to cut the flags stripes apart into the strips of red and white and the square with the stars. then you are supposed to burn it by burning the strips one at a time and the last thing you burn is the blue field with the stars. that is the proper way to retire a flag. Its a ton of effort, but usually the local lions club or boy scout troop will collect old flags from the neighborhood and have a retirement ceremony once a year.

That being said, i dont know of many people who would destroy a nice, new flag because it accidently touched the ground.

And that is how i am an eagle scout.

MFlick, I think you can bury a retired flag, too, no?

I have the Congressional Report for Congress (RL 30243) regarding flag protocol (which all congressmen/women use in their offices) and I have the entire CRS Title 36 (which documents all changes in flag protocol down to the last period or comma). I have a copy of the GPO U.S. Code which includes the flag code.

I have the Navy's flag manual NTP 13(b), the Army flag manual AR840-10, the Air Force manual 34-1201, and the Marine Corp manual MCO P10520.3B

I have a Boy Scout manual c.1984 (my husband was a Scoutmaster for 10 years and my son is an Eagle). I belong to NAVA, and own many books on flags and flag protocol.

Please let me assure all readers here, that in none of the documents listed above---are there any instructions that call for destroying the U.S. flag if it touches the ground.

EVERY effort should be taken to KEEP it from touching the ground, but it does not have to be retired if it does.
Wash it when it gets dirty, mend as needed, retire when it can no longer be mended.

Or simply not own a flag......

I'm sorry if I sound incredibly unpatriotic, but I worship ideals, and not the icons that are supposed to represent them.

bobthefish..stick to swimming.