Drop box for old flags is placed by city hall

OSMOND — Jim Schmit, a member of Osmond’s Sons of the American Legion (SAL) Squadron, recently approached the Osmond City Council with a request for permission to put a drop box to collect old flags, in memory of the late Norman Lorenz, on the north side of the city auditorium. Schmit had received permission from American Legion Post 326 and the SAL to seek council approval, since it would be more visible by the auditorium instead of the side street by the Legion post. The council gave their approval to put the drop box to the north of the auditorium.

Norm’s daughter and Jim’s wife, Deb Schmit, wrote the following:

Though the freedom, justice and sacrifice they represent will live forever, all U.S. flags eventually reach the end of their useful lives. Many Americans proudly fly the U.S. flag, but what do you do with it when it’s old and ratty and you’re ready for a new one?

Just as there’s etiquette for displaying Old Glory, there’s also etiquette for disposing of flags in a dignified manner. The U.S. flag code says “The flag, when it is in such condition that it is no longer a fitting emblem for display, should be destroyed in a dignified way, preferably by burning.” The ways to dispose of the U.S. flag are by burning, burying, recycling or placing it in a community disposal box.

Osmond residents will now be able to dispose of old, worn, tattered, frayed and/or faded U.S. flags. A flag disposal box now sits in Memorial Park on the north side of the city auditorium and was placed there in memory of Norman Lorenz by his family.

Norman was called to serve his country on Feb. 24, 1953, and was sent to Fort Riley, KS, for infantry training to fight in the Korean War. His basic training was over about the same time as the armistice was signed to end the conflict, thus his orders changed from Korea to southern Germany. There he served from July 1953 to February 1955, in charge of weapon repair. He was a lifelong member of the American Legion Post 326 upon returning home.

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