ELGIN, Ill., June 13, 2009
Trash Collector "Rescues" American Flags
Suburban Chicago Man Retrieves Stars And Stripes That've Been Tossed; He's Grabbed Hundreds
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Jeff Olsen, a trash collector in Elgin, Ill., has rescued hundreds of American flags that have been thrown away by people, seeing to it they are disposed of in an honorable way. Now, Olsen is being honored by the American Legion and Elks. (WBBM)
And for his efforts, the trash collector in the Chicago suburb of Elgin is being honored on Sunday -- Flag Day -- by the American Legion and the Elks.
When Olsen spots a flag someone has simply thrown out, he grabs it and brings it with him back to the garage, Vince Gerasole of CBS station WBBM-TV in Chicago reported on the CBS News broadcast The Early Show Saturday Edition.
He's "flagged" hundreds -- many in very poor condition. But Olsen knows their Old Glory is still precious.
He showed Gerasole the biggest flag he's ever saved -- it was as high as Olsen is tall. He also took out the box in which the flags he's rescued sit, all folded in the proper manner.
Olsen has a Stars and Stripes in the cab of his truck, some hang in the office of his company, Waste Management, and another flies outside the entrance, but the rest are handed over to the American Legion for proper disposal --- that is -- by burning in a dignified way.
Over the past 18 months alone, Olsen has found more than 250.
"Out of respect for the flag," he tells Gerasole, "It's the U/ S. of A. You've got to do it. ... The flag represents me; it's a good feeling to save a flag."
Her adds that he's not the only flag rescuer, saying, "There's a lot of other gatbage guys out there doing the same thing."
Olsen believes most people throw out old flags because they don't know exactly what to do with them.
The Pentagon says they should be disposed of with dignity, preferably by burning them.
But today's synthetic fibers create toxic fumes, which is why, Gerasole notes, the American Legion burns them in a crematorium.
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Add a Comment See all 91 Comments
- For someone who cares for the flag, it was hanging the wrong way at his house. No matter which way the flag hangs, the blue union should ALWAYS be to the left.
- Reply to this comment
- I love to fly my American flag from a bracket on my front porch. I used to put it up every morning that it wasn't raining, and I'd recite the Pledge of Allegiance and the first stanza of the Star Spangled Banner before I went to work. That didn't last too long - the punk kids up the road stole it.
Now I fly my new flag on weekends or whenever I'm home, and the punk kids turned 18 and they're all in jail for drugs, drunk driving, assault, etc. - Reply to this comment
- In this country we have two political parties. Why don't you sniveling idiots man up and change the system. Democrats tax everything and waste the money trying to level the playing field worldwide. Republicans treat business as KING and the lowly workers as expendable pee-ons (sic). What we need is an AMERICAN party that is for the fair dealings of Americans. We stand up for what we believe. Let the rest of the world follow our example if they have the guts to do so. And I still don't understand why a nation that allows legal abortion is so reluctant to execute it's criminals who commit murder.
- Reply to this comment
- "There's a lot of other gatbage guys out there doing the same thing."
--What's a gatbage guy? - Reply to this comment
- Your perception is the problem, you see something more than a flag and yet that is all they are. Worn American flags are nothing more than worn pieces of fabric. They deserve nothing. American veterans are another story, they are deserving. Posted by presjfk
I'm afraid I have to STRONGLY disagree with you, presjfk. YOUR perception is the problem. Sure the actual flag is just a piece of fabric, but what we RESPECT is what that flag REPRESENTS. Don't you get that? A 100 dollar bill is just a piece of paper, but you understand that IT stands for something, right? Well, THE FLAG represents what the USA stands for. You HONOR and RESPECT what it STANDS FOR. - Reply to this comment
- With the ongoing outsourcing and job loss, pretty soon more Americans will be rescuing things like food from the trash.
- Reply to this comment
- Posted by bothR2blame31 at 4:57 PM : Jun 14, 2009
Got your flag flyin' today?
Oh, I think maybe you said that you have it flying everyday, didn't you? - Reply to this comment
- As a Democrat since WWII I am ashamed of both of you...
BTW, I am also a Christian. And I am 'still ashamed of you'!!!!!! - Reply to this comment
- oh well, that's those republicans for you, folks!
Posted by haint-talkin"
Great post! I agree 100%!
Posted by presjfk at 2:15 PM : Jun 14, 2009
And heres another one - Reply to this comment
- republicans go around digging in garbage to save american flags...
then, first chance they get they send american soldiers to die in foreign lands based on lies and deceit.
then, they go to church and pray like the hypocrits they are.
religious, bible thumping, war making, ignorant lying creeps.
oh well, that's those republicans for you, folks!
Posted by haint-talkin at 10:19 AM : Jun 14, 2009
Really know it all, don't you. - Reply to this comment
- Fabric.
- Reply to this comment
- Today is Flag Day. Please respect our nations flag and fly your flag...today, and every day with pride. This story is genuine and also deserves respect to this individual for his patriotic efforts. Worn American flags must be treated with dignity, and not thrown in the trash!
Posted by NeverForget_911"
Your perception is the problem, you see something more than a flag and yet that is all they are. Worn American flags are nothing more than worn pieces of fabric. They deserve nothing. American veterans are another story, they are deserving. - Reply to this comment
- so the party of pro-death (abortion), pro-homosexual marriage (Sodomy), pro-higher taxes (like King Herod), pro-Government control of the masses (again like King Herod), etc, etc, etc, is "more perfect"?
Your loyaly to the democrats, and not your country, will eventually be your downfall.
Posted by Audacity_of_Deception"
Bad news for you jackass, prior to Roe vs. Wade, abortions were still performed by the millions. Gays can't get married in most states - but they are still sodomizing and all other kinds of junk you don't like - but you and others against gays think you have put an end to gaydom with such prohibitions! Nonsense.
Nobody is for higher taxes but you can't have unlimited spending and tax cuts without paying the bill! Both parties are guilty of this but maybe the Reps more so!
You right-wing politics are the problem, not the solution.
Move to Iran, abortion is illegal and there are no gays according to their President. - Reply to this comment
- " republicans go around digging in garbage to save american flags...
then, first chance they get they send american soldiers to die in foreign lands based on lies and deceit.
then, they go to church and pray like the hypocrits they are.
religious, bible thumping, war making, ignorant lying creeps.
oh well, that's those republicans for you, folks!
Posted by haint-talkin"
Great post! I agree 100%! - Reply to this comment
- some places it is illegal to take anything out of someone else's garbage because of identity theft issues. I hope if he goes to those places he will knock on their door and ask before taking the flags, I am sure the owners will gladly let him have it
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- Isn't this kind of ridiculous, weeping and gnashing of teeth over a flag ?
Especially when it is the presently most hated symbol in the world.
As they say "every one should have two,
**** on one and cover it up with the other." - Reply to this comment
- do you want to try that with me around limpbrain ?
Posted by earth562 at 9:59 AM : Jun 14, 2009
--------
Yawn. - Reply to this comment
- I'd just as soon **** on it as salute it.
Posted by heuristic1 at 10:59 PM : Jun 13, 2009
do you want to try that with me around limpbrain ? - Reply to this comment
- I don't think he is saying that Democrats are Perfect - but they are definitely more perfect than Republicans!
Posted by whatdableep at 1:50 AM : Jun 14, 2009
Yes, maybe some of the ones prior to the Bush Derangement Syndrome and the post 9/11 conspiracy nuts - Reply to this comment
- Today is Flag Day. Please respect our nations flag and fly your flag...today, and every day with pride. This story is genuine and also deserves respect to this individual for his patriotic efforts. Worn American flags must be treated with dignity, and not thrown in the trash!
- Reply to this comment
