Trash Collector Saves American Flags

Here's a man who loves his country - Jeff Olsen, a trash collector from Elgin, a suburb of Chicago, is being honored Sunday (Flag Day) for rescuing American flags. These flags have been thrown away and found in the garbage, but Olsen wants to be sure that they are disposed of in a proper and honorable way.

When he spots flags in the trash, he brings them back to his garage. Even if the flags are in bad condition, which many of them are, he still saves them. Olsen thinks people throw flags away because they don't know exactly what to do with them once they've reached a poor condition.

Olsen has collected hundreds of flags, according to CBS News, and although he keeps some flags for himself, the rest are given to the American Legion for honorable disposal. In 18 months, Olsen has found more than 250 flags in garbage cans.

"Out of respect for the flag," he said, "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." He also adds that he's not alone, and that many other trash collectors are saving flags as well.