“Warts and all”

One of the perks about moving is a new commute and my path to and from work takes me past Eastfield Presbyterian Church.  I think the place recently shut down (maybe the preschool is still going?) but still conspicuous outside is an American flag.  A pretty tattered flag, faded and ragged.  One time while a friend and I were driving past I commented someone should take it down so it could be disposed of properly. We talked a little bit about the fact that there is actually a protocol and a ceremony for “putting down” old American flags and my friend made the comment that a flag burning ceremony seems a bit superfluous for what is essentially a symbol.  I didn’t quite agree, having grown up learning about flag etiquette through the Boy Scouts, but I also couldn’t quite put it into words why it would be something more than just a symbol.  It’s just one of those things that you do.  So, I didn’t quite have an answer, but decided to file the question away to think about later.