You should always show proper respect for our flag.  No matter who you are.

As a proud American I refuse to believe that anyone in this country needs a history lesson on Independence Day.  (I am trying to be positive here.  I know this may not be entirely true.  I live in California and I have worked in the public and private schools.  You wouldn’t believe some of the ignorant  offspring I have come in contact with. . .and they grow up to be adults!  But I digress. . .)

I could do a piece on using real fireworks to celebrate the day.  I could do a column about not using the birthday of our country as just another excuse to get drunk.  I wanted to do anything but another history lesson.

Rather than lecture on July 4th being the official birthday of our country  I have chosen to discuss a related topic.  I’m going to discuss proper flag etiquette.  Face it, some Americans are so proud of this country they sometimes forget how to properly handle and display the stars and stripes.

Our flag is both a symbol of our independence and our unity of a nation.  We are literally “one nation, under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all”.  Our flag has a proud and interesting history.  It was at the front of every battle ever fought by Americans.  In fact, it even stands on the surface of the moon.  As such an important symbol of our country we need to make sure we treat it properly.

By now you must realize there is a right way and a wrong way to display the flag.  It should be held in the highest of regards.  It represents our nation and the people who gave their lives for our country.  In no specific order, here are some basic rules regarding the display of our flag:

• The flag should never, ever touch the ground.
• The flag is normally flown only from sunrise to sunset.
• If you are storing your flag, fold it properly, similar to the paper footballs you may have made in school.
• The (blue) union on the top.  When you display a flag in print, the stars are always on the upper left.  
• The flag is always flown at the top of the flag pole above other flags such as state or city flags.
• When raising the flag in the morning, you raise it quickly.  When lowering it at dusk, lower it slowly.
• If you are going to fly the flag at night you must have a light on it
• You should not fly the flag in the rain or inclement weather.
• After a major tragedy or death, the flag is flown at half-staff for one month (30 days).
• When flown on a pole vertically, the stars and blue field (union) is at the top and at the end of the pole (away from your house or building).
• When American flags are old and/or worn  and torn (including the flags people fly on their vehicles), it is time to retire them.  Old flags must be buried or burned.  They are not to be simply thrown into the trash.  In fact, there is a special ceremony for the retirement of American flags.  Scout troops and your local VFW can give you  further information.
  

Don’t get me wrong, if you are proud of our country I think that is a good thing.  I would expect that but it is a good thing nonetheless.  However, if you are going to fly the stars and stripes you might as well do it proudly and properly.   Have a good Independence Day !  

God Bless America!

My name is Phoenix and. . .that’s the bottom line.