Area residents have a new spot to take their worn and tattered flags to be retired.
Starkville's Boy Scouts of America Troop 45 has placed a flag drop box in front of the troop's headquarters on Meigs Street, directly east of First United Methodist Church of Starkville.
Assistant Scout Master Perry Sellars said the receptacle is an old mail drop-off box donated to the troop, an item that is not easy to come across.
“I wanted town folks to have a central location where they can bring flags so they can be retired respectfully,” Sellars said.
American flags are supposed to be retired when they become worn or tattered. They are then disposed of in a retirement ceremony and typically burned. Sellars said he regularly retires flags from Mississippi State University and others in the area.
Flags dropped in the downtown drop box will be retired by Troop 45.
Allen's Body Shop in Starkville painted the box for free, ensuring that it would be not look too similar to a mailbox. Pitts Signs provided vinyl lettering for the box.
Sellars said the box will remain in place as long as the American flag continues to fly.
Troop 45 is a member of the Pushmataha Area Council and is chartered by First United Methodist Church of Starkville.