... that our flag was still there..

[gridlore]

Most of y'all know that we had one hell of a winter storm last week, complete with hurricane force winds in many places around the Bay. The rest of us got off easy, with winds hitting the 65mph mark. Trees down, 50,000 people still without power, etc, etc.

And a lot of shredded US flags. People, I learned flag etiquette in the frigging Boy Scouts. It's not that difficult, so follow along.

1. If the forecast is for a major storm with high winds, take your flag down. Unless you shelled out for an all-weather flag, flags cannot withstand hours of heavy rain and high winds.

2. If you do not do this for some reason, look at your flag when the storm clears. If it is torn, tattered or (as in the case of a local gas station) reduced to a few strips of ragged cloth, take it down immediately!

3. If you find yourself with a flag that cannot be displayed due to damage or wear, contact the American Legion to see if a local Chapter is collecting flags for disposal. The BSA, Veterans of Foreign Wars, and other organizations are also happy to give old flags a proper disposal (ironically enough, the Flag Code suggests burning.) Do NOT throw an old flag away.

It's the symbol of our nation, folks.. treat it with pride.

Comments

[sylvan.livejournal.com]

urbanwolfie and I were just having a similar discussion the other day. Sadly, most people just don't care any more. Taking proper care of the flag requires patriotism that includes effort- most people only care enough to slap a sticker made in Taiwan on their car to show their pride in our country.

[meglimir.livejournal.com]

You can even take it to your local library or fire station, who will be happy to either give it the proper disposal themselves or pass it along to one of the above mentioned organizations.

[cmdr-zoom.livejournal.com]

thus giving new meaning to the term "sunshine patriot."

[johno.livejournal.com]

I've never gotten the camera out in time, to catch the flags on cars and trucks that have been shreded by the highway speed winds.

But I do often think about how patriotic it is to shred the flag.

[lisa-marli.livejournal.com]

I too marvel at the "Patriot" who has Support Our Troops, Bush in 04, and other Great American Stickers plastered all over their pick up, and Multiple Shredded Flags flying all over the thing. And not just the little ones either. They put them on 9/12/01 and haven't removed them since.
And then they tell me how unpatriotic I am. For not being as nutso as they are.
*sigh*

[murphymom.livejournal.com]

Girl Scouts will often deal with the proper, respectful disposal of flags as part of a Gold (Senior scouts), Silver (Cadette, or Bronze (Junior) award project.

[nolly.livejournal.com]

Or just as an event; my troop was going to do one once, but were prevented by a drought-induced burn-ban.

(event is probably not the word I actually want; I've been traveling 11 of the past 14 days and my brain is mush.)

[benkenobigal.livejournal.com]

For crying out pete's sake, who doesn't know to do this?? I wasn't a girl scout (except for Brownies) and I know this stuff. You take the flag down at night (unless properly illuminated). You don't let it touch the ground. You place it on top if you have multiple flags. C'mon...it's just common sense!

[lysana.livejournal.com]

I know you were being rhetorical, but as an example of how widespread the stupidity is, in my area, there's at least one post office that's blowing it on multiple levels. While they light the pole 24/7, allowing them to fly the flag at all times, their flag is not only yellowing and unraveling, it's too small for the pole.

I "rescued" one once.

[capplor.livejournal.com]

It had been a small flag, tied to a car antenna. When I saw it it was a little triangle. I pulled the rest off (the car was parked), and put it in my purse, for later respect. Never found it again; it must have self-disintegrated.