FYI: Proper flag uses per Public Law 93-344

Again, we hould probably drop this thread in leiu of the on-topic ones but I must agree that the normal people that fly them already had them up before the popularity of flying them (right and wrong) came up. I have a regular in-concrete pole with a light and an all-weather flag but I usually take it down in bad weather and at night. Just a habit from school and 20 yrs in the AF I guess. Helped my neighbor put up a real pole this weekend, the concrete should be cured this evening and I'll be giving him some hints on how to fold it (in 3 and then angled to make a triangle) and how npt to put it up and drag the ground. -> -----Original Message----- -> From: owner-classiccmp(a)classiccmp.org -> [mailto:owner-classiccmp@classiccmp.org]On Behalf Of Kent Borg -> Sent: Monday, September 24, 2001 8:33 AM -> To: classiccmp(a)classiccmp.org -> Subject: Re: FYI: Proper flag uses per Public Law 93-344 -> -> -> On Sun, Sep 23, 2001 at 04:48:41PM -0700, Eric J. Korpela wrote: -> > I went to a public school in Wisconsin. We were taught how to display -> > the flag in grade school (in the 70s). IMHO, anyone patriotic enough to -> > display the flag should be patriotic enough to take it down at -> night, to -> > keep it out of the rain, and to wrap it properly when it is -> disposed of. -> > It's not going to be a symbol that commands respect if US -> citizens don't -> > treat it with respect. Nobody here younger than 70 seems to -> be aware that -> > there are any guidelines at all. -> -> Thanks for posting that, and thanks for the pointer to the flag -> etiquette. Tattered flags plastered to wet flagpoles in the dark -> aggravate me. -> -> I'm well under 70, and I am feeling like I am not patriotic because I -> have only been flying our flag on days that I am assured will not -> rain, and when I remember to out it out before rushing off to work -> with no breakfast. I am thinking I should rig a light for it so that -> I would only have to worry about weather and can put it out after -> daylight savings time is over. -> -> Did I line up to buy this flag after the attack? No. Several years -> ago, after I bought my house, I saw the flag bracket bolted to the -> front porch and decided I should have a flag for it. I mostly don't -> fly it there but leave it in a stand indoors because I want to show -> proper respect. So it isn't even worn out. I didn't need to buy a -> new one out of sudden patriotism, I already had one that is in fine -> shape. -> -> I don't do this because of some law, I do it because it is a powerful -> symbol that is important to me. It is an important form of speech for -> me to so care for it. In fact, I do not think there should be a law -> dictating respect to our flag. Rather, people who care should show -> their respect because they care. I would far rather there be few -> flags flying, but flags that fly proudly and with respect and -> ceremony. Instead we have them everywhere and everyway as though -> quantity is somehow the point. -> -> A couple years ago I was at an event that included "proper" disposal -> of some flags. It was poorly done. Squirting some lighter fluid on a -> synthetic flag that then melted and went out, and then again for the -> next flag that did the same, each falling into the metal trash can. -> It did not seem very dignified--even if the guy doing it was a veteran -> with a funny hat and a cigarette lighter. The people who burn flags -> in protest have a far better understanding of the power of the symbol, -> and in a strange reversed way somehow seem to show it more respect -> than those who treat it with sloppy disregard. At least the -> protesters frequently manage to have the flag go out in a blaze and -> not a dim smudge of nasty smoke. -> -> -> -kb, the Kent who remembered to notice the weather prediction and put -> out his flag this morning, but the Kent who forgot to do so yesterday. ->