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Flags are on my mind, because they’re in the news. In my household, we have 2 flags, and fly only one, and are careful to follow flag etiquette. Owning a flag has responsibilities, not just privileges.
Flags are visible representations of a public idea, representing a leader or group with a large fabric sheet that can be identified from far away. Flag-like banners were described as long ago as 11th century BCE, in China. Silk made lightweight fabrics, well suited to make large banners held aloft on poles.
In battle, a flag indicates the identity of a faction or the location of a leader. The loss of a flag can show that a battle is over. Banners and flags held aloft helped soldiers and sailers find their allies and attack their foes.
The word “flag” has several origin stories, and all of them may have parts of the truth. Old Norse, Middle English have words that means “flutter” and Proto-German has a similar word that means “flat.” The world “flag” can be used as action verb, “to flag someone down,” means to use a waving gesture to bring help.
“Flags have probably been used at sea as a form of communication since the earliest days of trading ships, with some evidence of the practice as far back as the Ancient Greeks.[24][32] However, as international trade increased during the Age of Sail in the early 17th century, European ships began displaying flags depicting their nationality, city of origin, and designation as military or trade ships.[33] These flags eventually evolved into the national flags and maritime flags of today. As early as the 13th century, the Italian maritime republics were using distinct flags for naval identification and by the 16th century English and Scottish ships were flying flags to show their country of origin, with designs derived from badges worn by their respective soldiers during the Middle Ages.[34][35] Flags also became the preferred means of communications at sea, resulting in various systems of flag signals; see, International maritime signal flags.[36]”
The American Legion has a thorough web site of flag etiquette and rules.
History of the Pledge of Allegiance
“The original Pledge of Allegiance was written by Francis Bellamy. It was first given wide publicity through the official program of the National Public Schools Celebration of Columbus Day, which was printed in The Youth's Companion of September 8, 1892, and at the same time sent out in leaflet form to schools throughout the country. School children first recited the Pledge of Allegiance this way:
"I pledge allegiance to my Flag and to the Republic for which it stands one Nation indivisible, with Liberty and Justice for all."
"The flag of the United States" replaced the words "my Flag" in 1923 because some foreign-born people might have in mind the flag of the country of their birth instead of the United States flag. A year later, "of America" was added after "United States."
No form of the Pledge received official recognition by Congress until June 22, 1942, when the Pledge was formally included in the U.S. Flag Code. The official name of The Pledge of Allegiance was adopted in 1945. The last change in language came on Flag Day 1954, when Congress passed a law, which added the words "under God" after "one nation."
Originally, the pledge was said with the right hand in the so-called "Bellamy Salute," with the right hand resting first outward from the chest, then the arm extending out from the body. Once Hitler came to power in Europe, some Americans were concerned that this position of the arm and hand resembled the Nazi or Fascist salute. In 1942 Congress also established the current practice of rendering the pledge with the right hand over the heart.
The Flag Code specifies that any future changes to the pledge would have to be with the consent of the President.”
The rules for display of the US flag are significant, and are worth reading carefully.
The last Monday in May is Memorial Day, this year on the 27th.
“On Memorial Day the flag should be displayed at half-staff until noon only, then raised to the top of the staff.”
The national news has shown that a US flag was flown upside down at US Supreme Court Justice Alito’s home during the first week of January, 2021. Here below is the section of the US Flag Code regarding respect for the flag. Justice Alito’s home and life were not in danger when his flag was flown upside down. While his behavior is outrageous, it is not criminal. What citizens can do is recognize behaviors that do not show respect for the flag and the country it represents.
“The Flag Code is simply a guideline for proper flag etiquette. The law does not provide penalties for violation of any of its provisions.”
§ 8. Respect for flag
“No disrespect should be shown to the flag of the United States of America; the flag should not be dipped to any person or thing. Regimental colors, State flags, and organization or institutional flags are to be dipped as a mark of honor.
(a) The flag should never be displayed with the union down, except as a signal of dire distress in instances of extreme danger to life or property.
(b) The flag should never touch anything beneath it, such as the ground, the floor, water, or merchandise.
(c) The flag should never be carried flat or horizontally, but always aloft and free.
(d) The flag should never be used as wearing apparel, bedding, or drapery. It should never be festooned, drawn back, nor up, in folds, but always allowed to fall free.
Bunting of blue, white, and red always arranged with the blue above, the white in the middle, and the red below, should be used for covering a speaker's desk, draping the front of the platform, and for decoration in general.
(e) The flag should never be fastened, displayed, used, or stored in such a manner as to permit it to be easily torn, soiled, or damaged in any way.
(f) The flag should never be used as a covering for a ceiling.
(g) The flag should never have placed upon it, nor on any part of it, nor attached to it any mark, insignia, letter, word, figure, design, picture, or drawing of any nature.
(h) The flag should never be used as a receptacle for receiving, holding, carrying, or delivering anything.
(i) The flag should never be used for advertising purposes in any manner whatsoever. It should not be embroidered on such articles as cushions or handkerchiefs and the like, printed or otherwise impressed on paper napkin or boxes or anything that is designed for temporary use and discard. Advertising signs should not be fastened to a staff or halyard from which the flag is flown.
(j) No part of the flag should ever be used as a costume or athletic uniform. However, a flag patch may be affixed to the uniform of military personnel, firemen, policemen, and members of patriotic organizations. The flag represents a living country and is itself considered a living thing. Therefore, the lapel flag pin being a replica, should be worn on the left lapel near the heart.
(k) The flag, when it is in such condition that it is no longer a fitting emblem for display, should be destroyed in a dignified way, preferably by burning. (Disposal of Unserviceable Flags Ceremony)“
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Thank you for reading Civics Tuesday, and learning with me about flag history, flag use, and flag care. The flag of the USA is a symbol, and should be treated with dignity, but not worshipped. How someone, particularly someone like a US Supreme Court member, uses or misuses a symbol of his country demonstrates a lot about who that person is.
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