Reverend Joseph E. Kurtz, D.D. Bishop | Archdiocese of Louisville

U.S. Army veteran Charles Hunton, a parishioner at St. Michael Church, left an American flag retirement service due to smoke pollution and began seeking an environmentally conscious method for retiring flags. His initiative resulted in a new project on St. Michael’s campus that aims to honor the U.S. Flag Code’s directive for dignified flag disposal while minimizing environmental impact.

Hunton collaborated with Scout Mick O’Dae, St. Michael Scout Troop #765, Ratterman & Sons Funeral Home, and the Knights of Columbus Archangels Assembly #3877 to establish a site dedicated to flag retirement. The project educates participants about both respect for the American flag and environmental stewardship as described in Pope Francis’ encyclical “Laudato Si’.”

“The pollution from burning flags can be greatly reduced by doing so in a properly operating crematory,” stated the Louisville Metro Air Pollution Control District in an email communication with Hunton.

According to Hunton, mass burnings of flags contribute to air pollution—a concern highlighted in paragraph 20 of Laudato Si’, which notes that “Exposure to atmospheric pollutants produces a broad spectrum of health hazards, especially for the poor.” Cremation is offered as an alternative that reduces emissions.

Flags are collected from nine churches within the Archdiocese of Louisville: St. Michael, St. Patrick, St. Margaret Mary, St. Gabriel, St Edward, St. Brigid, St. James, Our Lady of Lourdes and the Shrine of St. Martin of Tours. During retirement services at St. Michael led by the Knights and Scouts, one flag is ceremonially burned while others are folded and sent to Ratterman & Sons Funeral Home for cremation.

O’Dae oversaw construction of the new site with assistance from fellow Scouts and Knights and helped lead its first service on June 14—Flag Day—which was blessed by Father Van Tran.

“Most people, they have flags and they know they shouldn’t just throw them away, but they don’t know what to do with them,” said O’Dae. “My grandfather, he had 13 flags that he didn’t know what to do with. He was a Boy Scout himself, so he knew he couldn’t get rid of them, but he didn’t know any place he could take them.”

The project also serves as a tribute to Pope Francis’s teachings on caring for creation.

“Especially in the light of Pope Francis’s passing — this was kind of his legacy, and so it’s important to honor what he said was important, and it really is. I mean, we only have one world and we all live in it, and it’d be a shame, really if we don’t take care of it,” O’Dae said.

This summer Hunton and O’Dae presented their work at two events marking ten years since Laudato Si’, hosted by the Archdiocese of Louisville.