Flags Find Proper Burial

Since Sept. 11, American flags have been flying all over the City. Large and small, theyre hanging over doorsteps, taped in windows and streaming from car radio antennas.
With all this use, some flags are beginning to wear out. But what do you do with Old Glory when its time to say goodbye?
"Most people dont know what to do," said Russ Bodenhorn, a long-time staffer at Keil Bros. Inc. Garden Center. "If you want to dispose of one properly, it needs to be burned."
Clearly, the flags need to be burned in a safe and respectful manner, but many civilians may not know exactly how to do so.
Bodenhorn and the others at Keils have decided to help out by collecting peoples old flags and bringing them to the John F. Prince Post of the Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW). "It doesnt matter what size or shape it is," said Bodenhorn. "Well take care of it."
At the VFW Post, the flags will be respectfully disposed of in a modest ceremony, performed by a chaplain and at least one veteran. Sonny Carreras, a 78-year-old veteran of World War II, said he had participated in numerous flag burnings. "We dont have a show or anything, we just say a prayer," he said.
First, the veterans dig a small hole in the yard behind the VFW building and place the flags in it. When the flags are completely burned away, they cover the hole back up.
"I think its important to do it the right way, to pay our respects," said Carreras. "The flag means a lot to us. Duty, honor and country, thats what I profess."
The Garden Center will give those who drop off their flags a 20% discount on the purchase of a new one. Although the initiative is starting just before Memorial Day, it will be ongoing. "Its just our way of giving back to the community," Bodenhorn said.
Keil Bros. is located at 210-11 Ave. in Bayside and is open seven days a week, from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Saturday and 8 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Sundays.