American flags that are worn, torn, faded or no longer fit to display may be dropped off in a special drop box supplied by the Carlsbad Fire Department at the Carlsbad City Library on Dove Lane. A second flag drop box will be installed at the Georgina Cole Library on Carlsbad Village Drive by the end of March.
Carlsbad City Library community relations manager Jessica Padilla Bowen explained, "Community members can ensure a proper retirement of their American flags thanks to the City of Carlsbad's Fire Department and Library. Per the Unites States Flag Code, flags that are no longer fitting to display must be destroyed in a dignified manner, preferably by burning. The drop boxes, which resemble red mailboxes, provide a convenient and respectful method for flag retirement. At Carlsbad City Library, the drop box is located next to the drive-up book return, and at Cole Library, the drop box will be located next to the book return in front of the library."
The flag retirement drop boxes will be available 24/7 outside of the libraries.
"The City of Carlsbad's Fire Department has been accepting worn flags from the public, which we burn in a fire pit," said Fire Captain Skip Clark. "We were looking for the most convenient location to provide a flag drop-off service and decided on the library. Now community members will be able to dispose of their flags and know that their fire department will respectfully and safely take care of the rest.
Firefighters have already collected 34 flags from the red drop box since it was installed outside the Dove Library almost two weeks ago.
