Vets' Corner: A little flag education
By Ron Verini
Friday, May 16, 2008 10:15 AM PDT
I was talking with a great American the other day by the name of Jack McIntyre, and he made a suggestion that I should write an article about flag etiquette. I think that, with the weather getting better (good flag flying time) and with a war going on, this would be a good time to catch up on some interesting facts about “Old Glory.”
This famous name was coined by Captain William Driver, a shipmaster of Salem, Mass., in 1831. As he was leaving on one of his many voyages aboard the brig Charles Doggett — and this one would climax with the rescue of the mutineers of the Bounty — some friends presented him with a beautiful flag of 24 stars. As the banner opened to the ocean breeze for the first time, he exclaimed “Old Glory!”
He retired to Nashville flying “Old Glory” proudly. The Civil War erupted, and Tennessee seceded from the Union. Rebels searched for the Flag to destroy it, but no trace.
Then in February of 1862, the Union captured Nashville, and Captain Driver went home and ripped open his quilt on his bed and brought out the original “Old Glory.” His devotion and risk to the flag we honor yet today.
The flag of the United States is a symbol worth protecting, but in 1989 the Supreme Court removed 200 years of protection. It is legal to desecrate the flag.
That in mind, I give you Flag Etiquette 101, and now it’s your turn to research and learn more about this great symbol since I touch only the tip of the iceberg.
This would be a great time to find out new knowledge about our flag and its etiquette!
How many of us know how to properly display a flag, let alone understand all of the details of flag etiquette? Most people are not aware of flag etiquette at all.
Did you know that it is against the Flag Code to wear the flag on an article of clothing (civilian) or to print its image on anything disposable, such as paper plates, napkins and other picnic decorations?
Even the president himself has been associated with several flag code violations.
After Sept. 11, a carpet with the image of the flag was placed at the Ground Zero memorial. Not only did the president and the first lady have their picture taken while standing on the flag carpet, the small carpet was also in direct violation of Section 8b of the Flag Code that states: “The flag should never touch anything beneath it, including the ground.”
Every day, celebrities and the public violate Section 8d, which prohibits the flag being worn as an article of clothing. While so many of us think we are donning our patriotic pride and literally wearing it on our sleeve, the Flag Code says otherwise. If violating the Flag Code were a crime punishable by jail time, most of the United States would be behind bars — including the United States Postal Service. Of course, there are no real penalties for disregarding the Flag Code; it is all a matter of respect.
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 never be used for receiving, holding, carrying or delivering anything. When the flag is lowered, no part of it should touch the ground or any other object; it should be received by waiting hands and arms. To store the flag it should be folded neatly and ceremoniously. The flag should be cleaned and mended when necessary. When a flag is so worn it is no longer fit to serve as a symbol of our country, it should be destroyed by burning in a dignified manner.
“A person gets from a symbol the meaning he puts into it.” The United States Supreme Court.
Ronald Verini is a local veterans advocate who writes a weekly column for the Argus Observer. He can be contacted at (541) 881-8881, or pencilsforpeace@q.com, or P.O. Box 933, Ontario OR, 97914
