Flag respect rant

wbraswell

wbraswell

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The city I work for doesn't know squat about flag etiquette. At least 3 times lately, I have seen the flag at half-mast at City Hall. I have inquired about it, and get an answer like "some old state rep. passed away." Reading flag etiquette, it says the only people authorized to have the flag lowered to half-staff is the POTUS and the governor of the state. What the city is doing is disrepectful to the flag and cheapens the proper occasions to lower it. I'm mortified that local officials are so stupid.
 
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Not to be too picky, but a couple of points if you're going to complain about how the flag is displayed.
First as a small issue, unless you city hall is a ship, you're trying to say half-staff not half-mast.
Next and more to the point. Our city displays the flag at half staff on days when a member of our armed forces die. I don't find that disrespectful at all. Although the person who commented to you about 'some politician died' needs a slap cross the head.

Here's some of the regs on displaying the flag.

In the event of the death of a present or former official of the government of any State, territory, or possession of the United States, or the death of a member of the Armed Forces from any State, territory, or possession who dies while serving on active duty, the Governor of that State, territory, or possession may proclaim that the National flag shall be flown at half-staff, and the same authority is provided to the Mayor of the District of Columbia with respect to present or former officials of the District of Columbia and members of the Armed Forces from the District of Columbia.
 
PDL,That is what I'm saying, only the POTUS and governor (and mayor of D.C.) can order it. The man who was instructed to lower it to half-staff was told it was a state rep who passed.
 
Understand your upset, but why talk to us? Go to your next City Council meeting and talk to the folks who can make things right. Get the flag ettequette, make copies for each council member and pass them out. Politely but forcefully make your points.

You may be a .gov employee but you are first a Citizen. If you don't act who will?
 
I have seen the flag lowered to half staff locally for any number of occasions that probably are not listed in official flag etiquette. Once was when a police officer was killed in the line of duty and again when a member of the fire department was killed responding to a fire. Frankly I don't feel our Nation's flag was dishonored on these occasions regardless of it not being "officially approved".
 
Here in Michigan it is the state that calls when the flag is flown at half staff. Normally that is certain holidays and in honor of a military member killed. I fly a flag here and hate to find out on my local radio station after I left home that it was to be at half staff and I didn't know.

Question on flag ettiquette if I may. A local business owned by a recently elected state representative I strongly support has both US and state flags on two poles in front of his business.
I know the US flag is to be displayed right or above another flag but would that be from the road in front of his business or from the building itself? He has the US flag to right as seen from his building but seems odd as I drive past his building on the road.

I'll stop and correct him if he's wrong as he'd appreciate that as he's also rumored to run for state senator and that'd be wonderful. That'd put one pro gun senator at least from this state.
 
When I was ten years old my father, a Chief in the navy, erected a flag pole about 20' high right outside the front door of our trailer. We lived in the poor part of town in a ramshackle trailer park. He proudly raised it every morning before leaving for the base and retrieved it every night before sunset. He taught me how to properly fold and care for our flag and it was my responsibility, a privilege really, to raise or lower when his military commitments precluded him being home at the appropriate times. Every night it was properly and reverently I might add, folded and stored. Whenever the appropriate authorities designated that the flag be flown at half staff we properly raised it to the top of the pole and slowly lowered it to half staff.

It is funny the things you remember. I had not thought of this in decades but this thread brought the memories flooding back. Thank you to the OP for that! I am driving to San Diego next week on business and when I see my father we will speak of this.
 
How many know that veterans can now sulute the flag when the National Anthem is being played.



FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
October 30, 2008

New Law Authorizes Veterans’ Salutes during National Anthem
WASHINGTON -- Veterans and active-duty military not in uniform can now render the military-style hand salute during the playing of the national anthem, thanks to changes in federal law that took effect this month.
“The military salute is a unique gesture of respect that marks those who have served in our nation’s armed forces,” said Secretary of Veterans Affairs Dr. James B. Peake. “This provision allows the application of that honor in all events involving our nation’s flag.”
The new provision improves upon a little known change in federal law last year that authorized veterans to render the military-style hand salute during the raising, lowering or passing of the flag, but it did not address salutes during the national anthem. Last year’s provision also applied to members of the armed forces while not in uniform.
Traditionally, members of the nation’s veterans service organizations have rendered the hand-salute during the national anthem and at events involving the national flag while wearing their organization’s official head-gear.
The most recent change, authorizing hand-salutes during the national anthem by veterans and out-of-uniform military personnel, was sponsored by Sen. Jim Inhofe of Oklahoma, an Army veteran. It was included in the Defense Authorization Act of 2009, which President Bush signed on Oct. 14.
The earlier provision authorizing hand-salutes for veterans and out-of-uniform military personnel during the raising, lowering or passing of the flag, was contained in the National Defense Authorization Act of 2008, which took effect Jan. 28, 2008.
# # #
For the latest news releases and other information, visit VA on the Internet at
Public and Intergovernmental Affairs Home.
To receive e-mail copies of news releases, subscribe to VA’s list server at:
http://www.va.gov/opa/pressrel/opalist_listserv.cfm.
 
Oh yes I knew. My first opportunity was at a tea party April 15. I had tears streaming down my cheeks as I saluted my flag and saw several others do the same.
 
Respect for the flag is basic, and is learned by every schoolkid in the U.S. For example, when a flag passes in review, civilians are to place their right hand over their hearts, with hat in hand if a hat is worn. Military people in uniform and veterans are to render the hand salute. The President of the United States, on the other hand...

crotch_salute.jpg
 
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