How to Handle Flag Day With Courtesy

Although Flag Day is not an official holiday, in 1916 President Woodrow Wilson issued a proclamation that officially established June 14 as Flag Day.

In August 1949, National Flag Day was established by an act of Congress. It commemorates the adoption of the flag of the United States, which happened that day by resolution of the Second Continental Congress in 1777. 

___________________________________________

According to usflag.org, there is flag etiquette. The Flag Code, which formalizes and unifies the traditional ways in which we give respect to the flag, also contains specific instructions on how the flag is not to be used. Here they are:

• The flag should never be dipped to any person or thing. It is flown upside down only as a distress signal.
• The flag should not be used as a drapery, or for covering a speakers desk, draping a platform, or for any decoration in general. Bunting of blue, white and red stripes is available for these purposes. The blue stripe of the bunting should be on the top.
• The flag should never be used for any advertising purpose. It should not be embroidered, printed or otherwise impressed on such articles as cushions, handkerchiefs, napkins, boxes, or anything intended to be discarded after temporary use. Advertising signs should not be attached to the staff or halyard.
• The flag should not be used as part of a costume or athletic uniform, except that a flag patch may be used on the uniform of military personnel, fireman, policeman and members of patriotic organizations.
• The flag should never have placed on it, or attached to it, any mark, insignia, letter, word, number, figure, or drawing of any kind.
• The flag should never be used as a receptacle 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.

_________________________________

I fly the flag from time to time.  On one occasion a neighbor who had never spoken to me before or after this day was obviously offended by the flag. I happened to be alone in my driveway and as he walked by. I remember lifting my hand to gesture a "hello," but as the word left my lips he began yelling and cursing at me for flying the "f------ flag," as he put it.  As he continued walking away, not giving me a chance to say a word, he felt it necessary to inform me of his parents' country of origin.  

I was stunned. All I could do was place my hand over my mouth in astonishment.  

We can all find something to be offended about; that's life. It is a personal decision as to whether we handle it with integrity and courtesy or rants and disparaging words.   

Isn't the flag a symbol that allows us to express ourselves?