E.G. BellWednesday, June 14 2023 is Flag Day.
“Flag Day, also called National Flag Day, in the United States, a day honouring the national flag, observed on June 14. The holiday commemorates the date in 1777 when the United States approved the design for its first national flag.”
We hold our flag in great honor, not for the colors or the configuration, but because of what those colors and that configuration represent. We celebrate our flag and take great offense at any who dishonor our flag, as we perceive dishonor.
While traveling, I picked up the July 2022 issue of the Latrobe Bulletin, which was dedicated to our flag. Customs, history, practices, rules, etc. It was enlightening. You can get it yourself if you like. It can be useful to refresh what we know and weigh ourselves against what we are supposed to be. Supposed to be doing. Against what we profess. Are we properly honoring the flag of the United States?
Public Law 94-333, known as the Federal Flag Code, dictates that the flag is to be treated with respect and proper etiquette. It is extensive. I have included some of the guidelines below. You may find yourself startled at some things done commonly that should not be done at all. I know I learned some things doing this research. We all profess a great respect for our flag. Some things done today belie that profession. I’m not writing to accuse, just to enlighten. If people lack respect after they know better, it is blatant disrespect. If we see something, we should say something.
The flag’s colors are specific and meaningful:
White: Purity and innocence
Red: Hardiness and valour
Blue: Vigilance, perseverance, and justice
SOME rules for flag handling and display (This list is not comprehensive)
Raising and lowering
• Raise quickly and lower slowly and ceremoniously
• Flag code suggests that the flag should be displayed only between sunrise and sunset
◦ If displayed at night, it should be illuminated
• When displayed indoors, flag should be displayed to the right of the speaker, staging area, or sanctuary
• Any additional flags in the room should always hang to the left of the American flag
• When flags are grouped, the American flag should always be in the center and at the highest point of any flag
In mourning
• When setting at half staff, flag should be raised to the peak before lowering to half-staff
◦ When lowering, during mourning, the flag should again be raised to the peak before it is lowered
• When covering a casket, the flag should be placed with the union (blue) at the head and over the left shoulder. NEVER lowered into the grave.
Parading
• Always to the right of the marchers when it is the lone flag being represented
• When other flags are carried, it may be centered in front of the others or carried to their right
• Audiences should salute the flag as it passes in procession
Over the middle of the street
• Suspended vertically
◦ Union (blue) to the north in an east/west street, to the east in a north/south street
Flown on the same halyard with non-nation flags
• American flag always at the peak
• When flown from adjacent staffs, the flag of the United States should be hoisted first and lowered last. No such pennant should be placed above or to the right of the flag of the United States
Respecting the flag/guidelines from the Flag Code
• The flag should never touch anything beneath it such as the ground, floor, water, or merchandise. It should never have anything placed on it.
• A flag in poor condition should be destroyed with dignity, preferably by burning. Most American Legion posts and local Boy Scouts troops will have the resources to retire flags accordingly. Many will host annual flag retirement ceremonies on flag day.
• The flag should be flown in fair weather, unless the flag is designed for inclement weather use
• The flag should never be used for any advertising purpose. It should not be embroidered, printed or otherwise impressed on such articles as cushions, handkerchiefs, napkins, boxes, or anything intended to be discarded after temporary use. Advertising signs should not be attached to the staff or halyard.
• The flag should never have any mark, insignia, letter, word, number, figure, or drawing of any kind placed on it, or attached to it.
• The flag should be cleaned or mended when necessary.
Even before doing my research, there were things that disturbed me. Things possibly done with good intentions, but ignorant.
• The ‘blue line’ flags, for instance, are clearly not in harmony with the Flag Code.
• I have seen contamination of the United States flag with a confederate flag. Not flown side by side or one over the other, but literally as a single flag. Flown in public, not by the government, of course, but by ignorant people.
Ignorant means ‘don’t know’ or ‘don’t know better’. It is time everyone knows definitively. I have seen flags tattered and worn, billowing in the breeze. This is contrary to the Flag Code. Disrespectful. I’m not questioning motives or intentions, but disrespect is disrespect regardless of either. It is inexcusable when ignorance is removed as an excuse. Ignorance should be removed.
I have a flag in my living room on a shelf. It is in a wooden display case, a blue-spangled triangle, no red showing. It was folded ceremoniously by U.S. Marines in dress-blue uniforms at my father’s funeral and handed to me, his oldest son. I was never in the armed services though quite a few of my family were. Are. Their dedication is no reflection on me. I would never want my treatment of the American flag to reflect in any negative way upon them. Better the American flag is treated by all in a way that reflects the honor and respect we all declare.
Reference – July 4, 2022 issue of The Latrobe Bulletin
