Video interview: Dallas flag lady seeks out, respectfully retires old Old Glories

by Mike Bullock, John P. Meyer

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... and she does it for free, as a service to the community.

In Jeanette Prasifka's official "day job," she works as a research librarian. Her passion, however, lies elsewhere: specifically, with the flags of our great nation. She honors them by retiring them - with fire.

Several years ago, Prasifka - in a roundabout way (see interview) - discovered that there were a lot of North Texans and others seeking to respectfully retire their old, worn flags. The problem is, they didn't have a resource for doing it, and were unclear on how to proceed.

According to United States Code (Title 4, 8(k)), the recommended procedure for retiring a tattered flag is by burning. But does that mean just firing up the barbecue grill and dousing Old Glory with lighter fluid? Most folks wouldn't dream of it. (We hope.)

So who you gonna call? Unofficially, that would be Jeanette, it turns out - though she'd like to know who, if anyone, is officially responsible for maintaining flag etiquette in the Dallas area. So far, she hasn't been able to find out.

And so she does it herself, drawing on her fellow Daughters of the American Revolution and her military contacts to perform the necessary service.

Once a year during the State Fair of Texas, Jeanette conducts a flag retirement ceremony in front of the Continental DAR House across from Marine Corps Square. The details of the ceremony she created are formalized and lengthy, involving a recitation of the Pledge of Allegiance; the speaking of several flag-related verses; a flag inspection; the actual burning; and the playing of TAPS.

Jeanette had to come up with her own proprietary ceremony, because it seems there is no "official" one beyond what's stated in the U.S. Code (i.e., "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.")

When you hear Prasifka talk about her deep respect for the flag and all it represents, you can appreciate her depth of feeling on the subject. And it's hard not to get a bit teary-eyed.

Watch Interview with Jeanette Prasifka in News  |  View More Free Videos Online at Veoh.com

Mike Bullock served as camera operator on this shoot.

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