Patriotism doesn't have to wait till July 4 (Flag Day)

[struggle4progress]

By George McEvoy

Palm Beach Post Staff Writer

Saturday, June 11, 2005

To say that we will celebrate Flag Day this Tuesday is to use the word celebrate with wild abandon. <snip>

And a symbol, after all, is what the flag is, a piece of cloth made into an attractive design, but only a symbol. It is what the flag stands for that is important, not the flag itself. <snip>

In recent years, some super-patriots have tried to make burning the American flag a crime. Actually, the rules on the proper handling of the flag dictate that an old and unsightly flag should be burned. <snip>

John Phillip Sousa composed the wonderful march, Stars and Stripes Forever. If you are ever at a circus, though, and the band suddenly interrupts another tune and starts playing Mr. Sousa's stirring march, head for the nearest exit. Stars and Stripes Forever is the secret warning to circus folk that a fire or some other potential disaster has broken out.

http://www.palmbeachpost.com/opinion/content/opinion/epaper/2005/06/11/m13a_mcevoy_0611.html

[unhappycamper]

1. IMHO, here is the appropriate use of our flag:

Patriot's Day, 4.18.2005


Dorchester Day Parade, 6.5.2005

[CrispyQ]

2. A refresher course in how to respectfully handle our flag:

http://www.ushistory.org/betsy/flagetiq.html

I've printed this out & leave at houses & on cars where I see frayed & dirty flags, dripping wet flags left out in weather, & flags at night without proper lighting.

Explain to me how a dirty, torn flag waving on an SUV is patriotic. Or what about a flag decal pasted on a trash can. They use the flag mindlessly just like their stupid yellow ribbons.

[HawkerHurricane]

3. For 20 years...

my Navy job was Signalman, and I had to memorize flag etiquette, military and civilian.

A U.S. flag flown from a ship is a ensign.
Nothing flies above an ensign on the same hoist.
A ship underway flies the ensign on the gaff. The gaff is on the highest mast. If there are multiple masts of equal hight, the gaff will be on the aft mast.
A ship underway will fly the ensign during daylight hours when in sight of land, when joining a formation of ships, when in company of ships of foriegn nations, and in battle. During wartime, battles may start at any time, so the ensign will be displayed at all times.
A ship moored will display the ensign from the flagstaff on the stern from 8am until sunset. If for any reason the ensign cannot be displayed on the flagstaff, it will be shifted to the gaff.
(there's more. lots more)