Reverence for the Flag

I guess they thought "the rocket's red glare & bombs bursting in air" were enough light to fly the flag at night, regarding the National Anthem. I need to get a new flag. I keep forgetting. A good quality one this time, and preferably made on this side of the Pacific.
 
I'm just happy that people still love and revere our flag. I know I do.

Two memories that are always with me and that are a source of joy from my time at various federal academies back in the 80's:

The Border Patrol agents raising the flag every morning at FLETC in Georgia...and the Native American LEOs of the Bureau of Indian Affairs doing the same each morning at the academy in Marana, AZ.

Each one started my day with a reverence for, and commitment to, my country.

I was in my 30's then and 70 now and the memory of those mornings is as fresh now as it was back then. Still makes me proud.
 
S-W4EVER said:
I was kinda surprised to learn that (prior to 2008) it wasn’t considjered legal for a Veteran (in civilian clothes) to render a hand salute at a graveside service. I was Military Police, so am quite comfortable with saluting and had done so at my Brother’s, Father’s, and several Veteran and LE friends who’d gone to the other side. It’s just a matter of respect for me.

BTW, both my Dad and my Brother were of The Silent Service...
Click to expand...

I work part-time at a funeral home and we do many burials at Abraham Lincoln Cemetery and the funeral staff always ask that during Taps veterans to salute and civilians to place their hands over their hearts.
 
Narragansett said:
I was looking at a neighbor's house today, and realized that the flag they have has no light on it at night, and does not come in at night.
Well my understanding is that if you fly the flag at night, it needs lighting or it needs to be taken down.

In my youth, I spent a massive amount of time at Quonset Naval Air Station using the facilities like swimming, golf, gym, bowling etc. Great fun!! I also remember that when they took the flag down at 6PM and blew taps the entire base came to a standstill. That was everything, cars and people.

Personally, I try to remember to take the flag in, but sometimes, I forget. It is small, and house mounted. I do however, take worn out flags to the Legion Hall, or a VFW for proper disposal.

I guess I am going to step out on a limb and say that I think small flags of a certain size should be allowed to stay out all night. I look at it this way, the sun sets on the flag and rises on the flag. Not bad?? After all, even though the people do not bring in a house mounted flag, at least they fly it. That should count for something, right?

Obviously, I am talking about residential. Others need to abide by the current standards.

Any latitude here? Should the guidelines be changed?
Click to expand...

We have one on the porch that usually stays up......I have one mounted(about 10"x`16") to the roll bar of my tractor that I enjoy seeing it fly when I'm on the tractor.
 
FLJoe said:
I'm a boater, and there are a whole set of rules around flying the flag on the boat apart from on land. Many people don't meet all the rules, and I admit, I don't always remember to bring the flag in at sunset, but I'm glad to see patriotic people flying it on their boats, even if they don't always exactly adhere to the rules.
Click to expand...

We have 2 that we fly on our Stingray. One on each side about 3/4's of the way back...........Looks really good when up on a plane those flags whipping the wind.
 
flying-the-flag.jpg
 
Show me a country whose youth is not stained by a few faults. There are NONE

What gets me is where I live I sometimes see people driving around with flags attached to their trucks. Quickly making them tattered and exhaust stained. While I love the sentiment, I hate what they are doing when they show it. I was on a job site a few years back and there was a torn and tattered flag at the tool room. I took it down, folded it up and put it in my tool box, so I could properly put it to rest and when the safety guy come around asking where it was and why I had it he got an earful.
 
After graduating From the US Fleet Sonar School, Class 5/57 they assigned you some type of a job until you were assigned to a ship. At the end of each building was a five gallon can half full of sand for the smokers to use on their break. Needless to say, the smokers missed the can a lot. My job, pick up the missed butts and place they into the can! The base commander lived on North Island and arrived near 0800. At my location I could not hear The Star-Spangled Banner as it was played, but I could see the base commander and his staff come to attention and salute. I would turn about 180 degrees towards the flagpole which I could not see salute and sing the Star-Spangled Banner to myself so that I would know at what point I could drop my salute and continue my job. Three weeks before
I received my ship, USS BULWARK MSO 425, homeport, Charleston, SC.
 
As a real deal, live and in person bugler graveside, I cannot tell you how few seem to know or understand the flag and it's presence, yes, that includes a number veterans proudly wearing their colors and not rendering a salute or hand above the heart.

Very few of the younger attendees bother with anything....Usually the deer in the headlights look.

Randy
 
Alk8944 said:
No, the guidelines should not be changed, peoples attitudes should change. Respect for the flag is seriously lacking!

And you don't need to take used, worn flags to the VFW or American Legion. Unfortunately I doubt many posts properly dispose of worn flags anyway. At least they likely do not just throw them in the trash!

If you are not aware, the correct way to dispose of a worn American flag is to separate the union aka canton aka field from the stripes, cut the individual stripes apart, then reverently burn the separated pieces. I have my mother to thank for this information. Both she and my father were WWII veterans. I am Viet Nam era.

We would all do well to read or re-familiarize, ourselves with Title 1, Chapter 4 U.S.C. "The Flag"
Click to expand...

Our legion has an old flag disposal ceremony annually as does our Boy Scout troop.
 
growr said:
As a real deal, live and in person bugler graveside, I cannot tell you how few seem to know or understand the flag and it's presence, yes, that includes a number veterans proudly wearing their colors and not rendering a salute or hand above the heart.

Very few of the younger attendees bother with anything....Usually the deer in the headlights look.

Randy
Click to expand...

Randy,

First, thank you for what you do. My Father (WWII Merchant Marine), Mother (WWII USN) and eldest brother (USN Submariner, Viet Nam) were all buried to the sound of a bugler playing taps. The flags for Mom and Pop were handed to the eldest, who may not have known what was happening (altzheimers) but he still rendered a salute to the Serviceman presenting the flag. It still brings tears to my eyes.

I did post a like but that is because there is no “I understand” button.

Kevin
 
I JUST bought brand new flag kit today! Costco has then for $33.95 and comes with sturdy pole and mount. My old flag is still in one piece but is getting a bit "tired" and faded. I will replace it with the thicker and more robust pole and mount before Independence Day. Since I fly the flag every day, it does get worn.

BTW, just as a heads up - Costco has the Valley Forge brand kit- totally made in USA (PA). That price is actually less expensive than just replacing just the flag itself! I will NEVER EVER buy a US Flag not made here!
 
That Valley Forge brand makes a variety of good, USA-made flags, and since they're here in ol' Pennsylvania, I have no problem using them. My present flag is faded on the West-facing side of the Flag. I'm going to order one today; I keep being reminded every morning but soon forget. I'm getting very forgetful, scary forgetful, and at only 66. I better order that flag today while the ol' gray matter is on this side of the planet! I wrote a note just now, so I have no excuse. (Story of my life lately...)
 
two-bit cowboy said:
Even the American Indians called the mountain range where I live the Wind River Range. It's a bit breezy. Here's where I get my flags:

Poly-Max American Flag (Extreme Winds) | American Flags Express
Click to expand...

jeffrefrig said:
That Valley Forge brand makes a variety of good, USA-made flags, and since they're here in ol' Pennsylvania, I have no problem using them. My present flag is faded on the West-facing side of the Flag. I'm going to order one today; I keep being reminded every morning but soon forget. I'm getting very forgetful, scary forgetful, and at only 66. I better order that flag today while the ol' gray matter is on this side of the planet! I wrote a note just now, so I have no excuse. (Story of my life lately...)
Click to expand...

I suppose Valley Forge Flags in Wormelsdorf PA makes some good stuff, but some of their cheap metal poles rust if you just look at them. There is a good flag company in Adamstown, PA
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads

T
CSX E-Series 3.1 Range trip and review
Replies
5
Views
2K
dben002
dben002
GaryS
Twelve Commandments for Senior Citizens
Replies
18
Views
1K
jimmyj
jimmyj
F
Young Brothers Massacre, A tactical expert opinion.
Replies
17
Views
2K
Timothy2700
T
RM Vivas
Magnum Musings – Mexican Magnums - Manos Arriba! Policia Cabron!
Replies
2
Views
288
DARE
D
T
Space Flight.
2 3
Replies
51
Views
1K
Golddollar
Golddollar

Latest posts

Back
Top