With a long and celebrated history, the U.S. flag is a revered symbol of our country that can be found almost anywhere.

The flag has its own rules for display and care and even its own holiday, which falls on June 14 every year in commemoration of the flag's adoption in 1777.

But if you fly the flag outside your home or elsewhere, you'll notice that it deteriorates over time. One might think to just toss it in the trash, but the U.S. Flag Code calls for the flag to "be destroyed in a dignified way."

In honor of Flag Day, here's how to properly dispose of Old Glory:

The preferred way to dispose of the flag is by burning it, according to the federal code.

The National Flag Foundation suggests arranging the flag into the traditional triangle fold and setting it over an open flame. After the the flag is completely burned, bury its ashes in a wooden box.

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Burning flags, however, comes with environmental and safety concerns due to some of the materials used to make them. If you choose to dispose of your flag this way, make sure to note the material and local ordinances.

Don't worry, though! There are also other ways to properly dispose of the Star Spangled Banner.

Another way to dispose of worn-out flags is by taking them to local community disposal boxes. There are several around the Houston area, including at most Veterans of Foreign Wars offices and outside the Lone Star Flight Museum at Ellington Airport.

From there, workers or volunteers will conduct the appropriate flag-retiring ceremony. 

If you don't want to burn your flag or have others retire it for you, you can instead bury it yourself.

Like the burning option, arrange the flag into its traditional triangle fold. Then place it into a wooden box and bury it.

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Burying also comes with environmental concerns because some flags are made of synthetic fibers or nylons, so if this doesn't work for you there is a greener option.

Finally, you can simply recycle the flag. Like many things, the materials used to manufacture household American flags can be reused to make other products, including more flags!

Jhair Romero is an intern for the Houston Chronicle's metro desk.

He spends his time covering all sorts of Houston news and chasing breaking stories around the city.

Although he's not from Houston, he's lived in the city since 2015 and is currently a senior studying journalism at the University of Houston.

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