The American flag is a symbol of freedom, justice, and sacrifice that our veterans and servicemembers fought so hard for. American Legion Auxiliary Unit 430 in Odessa, Texas, believes that even the most tattered and torn American flag can serve one final purpose.
 
“The ‘Retire with Dignity’ program allows us to retire a flag the dignified way while honoring a veteran,” said Unit 430 President Paula Roberts. “This happens when your flag is no longer worthy of being displayed. We can honor it one last time by draping the retired flag over a veteran’s coffin before cremation.” 
 
Unit 430 began the project when they noticed they had a surplus of American flags at their post home, but due to a local burn ban, they had to think outside the box to retire the flags. After talking to her loved ones and a veteran family member, Roberts decided draping an American flag over a veteran’s casket before being cremated was the perfect solution.
 
Roberts contacted local crematoriums and funeral homes explaining her idea, and they were all on board. All members of Auxiliary Unit 430 participated by spreading the word of the Retire with Dignity program, purchased containers to store the flags safely, and brought the flags to the four locations willing to participate. They asked the Junior ROTC cadets to help fold the flags, and taught them what the 13 folds represent. Unit 430 put identifiable labels on top of the containers that included their Auxiliary unit’s name and phone number, along with a brief description of the importance of this project. 
 
In January 2024, Unit 430 initiated its first veteran with the Retire with Dignity cremation. Phillip “Phil” Graves was a proud U.S. Army veteran who loved his country greatly. 
 
“He never wavered from his love for our country and his admiration and support of the military,” said Graves’ daughter, Kelly Graves Phillips. “From as long as I can remember, my father always had a flag flying at home and was proud to do that. To cremate him with two flags was our way of showing Dad respect for what he held important and what he instilled in us.” 
 
Although originally intended for veterans and servicemembers, Retire with Dignity can be an option for anyone who is patriotic and has a love for our country. 
 
After their loved one passes, Unit 430 gives a certificate to the family that assures them the last good deed of service for the flag was to drape it on their casket to give the veteran an honorable farewell. 
 
“Having your veteran’s urn and inside of it is not only their ashes, but the ashes of an American flag because that flag is embedded in them now — I think that’s taking care of them after they are gone,” said Roberts. 
 
 
Retire with Dignity project how-to steps: 

1. Have a need to dispose of American flags. Collect them at your post home. 
2. Reach out to local funeral homes and crematoriums and ask if they would be willing to participate. 
3. Find containers to store the flags. 
4. Create a label for the containers. Put your Auxiliary unit on there with the unit’s phone number and address. Include a description of what the project is and that they can contact you if they are running low on flags or have questions. 
5. Fold the flags, and store them in the container. 
6. Take some of the filled containers to the crematoriums or funeral homes that agreed to participate. Store the rest of them in a safe place at your post home. 
7. Involve the community: Ask people to bring their torn or tattered flags in to be retired with dignity. 
8. Make sure to talk to your Legion Family about this activity. Let them know that when the time comes, they have an opportunity to be cremated or buried with an American flag.