The other day when I was putting out our flag at the Northern Wyoming News, a gust of wind knocked the flag out of my hand.
I know etiquette says that the flag should not touch the ground, but it was not intentional. I gently picked it up and put the flag in the stand attached to our exterior wall. I mentioned to one of the employees that it hit the ground and how I thought flag etiquette meant it should be properly disposed of, but considering how many people treat the flag in the name of patriotism, I was not going to do that. (I was wrong, the flag code actually states that "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." No mention that it must be disposed of immediately if it touches the ground. By the way, the American Legion Post 44 has a drop off box for flags that are disposed of during a ceremony on Veterans Day.)
The employee said something to the effect that isn't flag etiquette just for military and military organizations?
This got me thinking on exactly who established the flag code and who is it for, especially since Flag Day is Wednesday, June 14.
According to Veterans Affairs website, Flag Day stems from a resolution adopted by the Continental Congress on June 14, 1777. The resolution states, "That the flag of the United States shall be of thirteen stripes of alternate red and white, with a union of thirteen stars of white in a blue field, representing the new constellation."
The flag, of course, has changed as the country grew, and the first official observance of Flag Day was a long time in coming, according to Veterans Affairs.
"The first claim was from a Hartford, Conn., celebration during the first summer of 1861. In the late 1800s, schools all over the United States held Flag Day programs to contribute to the Americanization of immigrant children, and the observance caught on with individual communities."
New York City began observing the Flag Day resolution in school in 1889. Pennsylvania became the first state to establish June 14 Flag Day as a legal holiday in 1937.
"Flag Day is a nationwide observance today, but Pennsylvania is the only state that recognizes it as a legal holiday," according to Veterans Affairs.
So, in the U.S. Code there is a section on the flag and specifically outlining the design of the flag, positions of the flag and more. Under section 8 is "Respect for flag." Under (b) it states that the flag should never touch anything beneath it, "such as the ground, the floor, water or merchandise." Which it did touch the ground when the wind snapped it out of my hands. But it was not intentional.
The flag code, as part of the U.S. Code, for U.S. citizens, states "The flag should never be carried flat or horizontally," but yet we all ooh and awe when they unveil large flags horizontally at sporting events.
"The flag should never be used as wearing apparel, bedding, or drapery. It should never be festooned, drawn back, nor up, in folds, but always allowed to fall free," but we celebrate with Olympians as they grab a flag and drape it around themselves after winning a gold medal.
And more code that is never or rarely followed ...
"(i) The flag should never be used for advertising purposes in any manner whatsoever. It should not be embroidered on such articles as cushions or handkerchiefs and the like, printed or otherwise impressed on paper napkins or boxes or anything that is designed for temporary use and discard. Advertising signs should not be fastened to a staff or halyard from which the flag is flown.
"(j) No part of the flag should ever be used as a costume or athletic uniform (patches are on collegiate and professional athletic uniforms). However, a flag patch may be affixed to the uniform of military personnel, firemen, policemen, and members of patriotic organizations. The flag represents a living country and is itself considered a living thing. Therefore, the lapel flag pin being a replica, should be worn on the left lapel near the heart."
All of this begs the question, is the flag code outdated? Do we understand what the flag represents? Has it become so common place that we do not give it proper reverence?
Note that the code is just recommendations, there are no penalties. These are not requirements but suggestions to honor the flag that represents our country.
Perhaps it is time to revisit the flag code and update it if necessary or begin teaching reverence to the flag and what it represents. Do we understand the words when we recite the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag?
Think about the Pledge of Allegiance. "I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the Republic for which it stands." The U.S. flag stands for these United States of America. It is a symbol of freedom, of democracy, a symbol of those who fought hard for our independence from England, a symbol of the men and women who have fought since then to ensure our freedoms.
So this Wednesday on Flag Day, take time and salute the flag, recite the pledge if you wish, for the flag is for all and represents all citizens of these United States of America.
U.S. Code Title 4, Chapter 1, Section 8 (k) The Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag: "I pledge allegiance to the Flag of the United States of America, and to the Republic for which it stands, one Nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.
Information on the U.S. Code was provided by govinfo.gov.
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