Boy Scouts Retire 9/11 Flag and End Debate Over Authenticity

One of the famous 9/11 American flags is no more.

Boy Scouts in Ashburn, Virginia, conducted a flag retirement ceremony yesterday, ending the controversy surrounding that particular flag.

Questions lingered after a contractor acquired the flag on E-bay. Simply put, no one was sure that the flag that was purchased was the one that was at the Pentagon after suicide hijackers plowed an airliner into the U.S. military command center. It was said to have been flown from a crane working on the still-burning Pentagon (at that time).

It's sad that people argued about this great symbol and couldn't agree on whether it was "authentic" or not. Posh. It was real and authentic to the people who loved that flag.

I support the decision to retire the colors. People shouldn't argue about our nation's flag. If people won't treat it with the respect that it is due, then it should be retired from service and not kept as a trophy by anyone.

The Scouts involved in the ceremony should be commended for retiring the colors in a respectful and thoughtful and correct manner. The Flag Code has been obeyed.

Here's the story.

And here's the Flag Code. Be prepared for some surprises on correct displays of the flag and respect for the flag.