FYI: Proper flag uses per Public Law 93-344

From: Russ Blakeman <rhblakeman_at_kih.net>
Date: Mon Sep 24 10:49:38 2001

Again, we hould probably drop this thread in leiu of the on-topic ones but I
must agree that the normal people that fly them already had them up before
the popularity of flying them (right and wrong) came up.

I have a regular in-concrete pole with a light and an all-weather flag but I
usually take it down in bad weather and at night. Just a habit from school
and 20 yrs in the AF I guess. Helped my neighbor put up a real pole this
weekend, the concrete should be cured this evening and I'll be giving him
some hints on how to fold it (in 3 and then angled to make a triangle) and
how npt to put it up and drag the ground.

-> -----Original Message-----
-> From: owner-classiccmp_at_classiccmp.org
-> [mailto:owner-classiccmp_at_classiccmp.org]On Behalf Of Kent Borg
-> Sent: Monday, September 24, 2001 8:33 AM
-> To: classiccmp_at_classiccmp.org
-> Subject: Re: FYI: Proper flag uses per Public Law 93-344
->
->
-> On Sun, Sep 23, 2001 at 04:48:41PM -0700, Eric J. Korpela wrote:
-> > I went to a public school in Wisconsin. We were taught how to display
-> > the flag in grade school (in the 70s). IMHO, anyone patriotic enough to
-> > display the flag should be patriotic enough to take it down at
-> night, to
-> > keep it out of the rain, and to wrap it properly when it is
-> disposed of.
-> > It's not going to be a symbol that commands respect if US
-> citizens don't
-> > treat it with respect. Nobody here younger than 70 seems to
-> be aware that
-> > there are any guidelines at all.
->
-> Thanks for posting that, and thanks for the pointer to the flag
-> etiquette. Tattered flags plastered to wet flagpoles in the dark
-> aggravate me.
->
-> I'm well under 70, and I am feeling like I am not patriotic because I
-> have only been flying our flag on days that I am assured will not
-> rain, and when I remember to out it out before rushing off to work
-> with no breakfast. I am thinking I should rig a light for it so that
-> I would only have to worry about weather and can put it out after
-> daylight savings time is over.
->
-> Did I line up to buy this flag after the attack? No. Several years
-> ago, after I bought my house, I saw the flag bracket bolted to the
-> front porch and decided I should have a flag for it. I mostly don't
-> fly it there but leave it in a stand indoors because I want to show
-> proper respect. So it isn't even worn out. I didn't need to buy a
-> new one out of sudden patriotism, I already had one that is in fine
-> shape.
->
-> I don't do this because of some law, I do it because it is a powerful
-> symbol that is important to me. It is an important form of speech for
-> me to so care for it. In fact, I do not think there should be a law
-> dictating respect to our flag. Rather, people who care should show
-> their respect because they care. I would far rather there be few
-> flags flying, but flags that fly proudly and with respect and
-> ceremony. Instead we have them everywhere and everyway as though
-> quantity is somehow the point.
->
-> A couple years ago I was at an event that included "proper" disposal
-> of some flags. It was poorly done. Squirting some lighter fluid on a
-> synthetic flag that then melted and went out, and then again for the
-> next flag that did the same, each falling into the metal trash can.
-> It did not seem very dignified--even if the guy doing it was a veteran
-> with a funny hat and a cigarette lighter. The people who burn flags
-> in protest have a far better understanding of the power of the symbol,
-> and in a strange reversed way somehow seem to show it more respect
-> than those who treat it with sloppy disregard. At least the
-> protesters frequently manage to have the flag go out in a blaze and
-> not a dim smudge of nasty smoke.
->
->
-> -kb, the Kent who remembered to notice the weather prediction and put
-> out his flag this morning, but the Kent who forgot to do so yesterday.
->
Received on Mon Sep 24 2001 - 10:49:38 BST