Pet Peeve

[Guest]

[rant]

It really ticks me off when people prominently display the American Flag and do not follow proper etiquette.

As I drove through downtown Tallahassee this morning to get to work, practically every non-government building or location did not have flags displayed at half-staff. I saw two (2) banks, the Embarq phone service center, and one fast food store (Chick-Fil-A) display thier flags at half mast. The remainder of fast food restraunts, malls, hotels, legal offices, etc. with flags - many which were out front in clear view of the public - were still diplaying thier flags at 'full' staff.

United States Code Title 4, Chapter 1, Section 7(m) states,

The flag, when flown at half-staff, should be first hoisted to the peak for an instant and then lowered to the half-staff position. The flag should be again raised to the peak before it is lowered for the day. On Memorial Day the flag should be displayed at half-staff until noon only, then raised to the top of the staff. By order of the President, the flag shall be flown at half-staff upon the death of principal figures of the United States Government and the Governor of a State, territory, or possession, as a mark of respect to their memory. In the event of the death of other officials or foreign dignitaries, the flag is to be displayed at half-staff according to Presidential instructions or orders, or in accordance with recognized customs or practices not inconsistent with law. In the event of the death of a present or former official of the government of any State, territory, or possession of the United States, the Governor of that State, territory, or possession may proclaim that the National flag shall be flown at half-staff. The flag shall be flown at half-staff 30 days from the death of the President or a former President; 10 days from the day of death of the Vice President, the Chief Justice or a retired Chief Justice of the United States, or the Speaker of the House of Representatives; from the day of death until interment of an Associate Justice of the Supreme Court, a Secretary of an executive or military department, a former Vice President, or the Governor of a State, territory, or possession; and on the day of death and the following day for a Member of Congress. The flag shall be flown at half-staff on Peace Officers Memorial Day, unless that day is also Armed Forces Day. As used in this subsection —
1. the term "half-staff" means the position of the flag when it is one-half the distance between the top and bottom of the staff;

2. the term "executive or military department" means any agency listed under sections 101 and 102 of title 5, United States Code; and

3. the term "Member of Congress" means a Senator, a Representative, a Delegate, or the Resident Commissioner from Puerto Rico.

Come on people ... get with the program !!!!!!!!!!

[/rant]

JR

 

[roadwreck]

Ahhhh man...

...I have a real urge to rant on a different subject (bathroom etiquette) but that hardly seems to be an appropriate subject matter to follow this particular rant.

All I can say about your flag etiquette rant is are you surprised? Most of these places you describe probably never take their flags down. Unless the American Flag is illuminated at night then it's supposed to be lowered at the end of the day. I highly doubt to many of these places you have described bother with that.

 

[FusionWhite]

I get pissed when people fly it in the dark with no lights and in the rain, both no-no's. But of course if you were to try and say something about it you would probably be called a terrorist.

 

[frazil]

I totally agree with you JR.

In a town I used to live in there was a retired marine who followed every flag etiquette. Then someone stole his flag! He bought another one, built a fence around the pole with a lock on the gate, and put barbed wire all along the fence. I wouldn't be surprised if he did armed survellience at night from the bushes. I guess it was the opposite extreme.

 

[MA_PE]

Before flying to the tragedy-stricken university in southwestern Virginia, Bush also ordered flags flown at half staff and issued a written proclamation in honor of those killed and wounded.

I'm assuming that this is the reason that prompted your "rant". I'm glad that public sector people and businesses display it at all.

This is truly a sad occaisson and my sympathy goes out to anyone that has a connection to any of the individuals that got injured or killed due to this senseless act of violence., but I would hesitate to admonish any flag displaying person or enitity for not standing by waiting for presidential orders on how to display the flag.

 

[cement]

I'm pretty pleased that everyone in my neighborhood (except my immediate neighbor, Satan) flies a flag. Sure, they don't all follow etiquette, but it sure is nice to see all the flags on a sunny day. And I missed the proclomation, I will lower mine to half staff when I get home.

 

[Guest]

I'm assuming that this is the reason that prompted your "rant". I'm glad that public sector people and businesses display it at all.

What really prompted my rant was driving through the capital this morning and seeing buildings displaying the flag at half-staff and other buildings displaying the flag differently within the same line of sight. In most cases, these buildings were directly acrosse the street from each other.

If you live away from 'government' buildings or institutions, my ire isn't drawn as quickly - I tend to grant those persons/businesses reprieve from my rants. However, if you are directly across from a building that is flying a flag at half-mast, I would like to think you would do the same out of respect. Or to be a little more direct about the matter - if I drive past a buisness that is within the 'government' district of <<Insert state capital name>> and you are displaying your flag in contravention of the government buildings around you then I have lost most of my respect for your establishment. :brickwall:

JR

 

[Road Guy]

the flag issues bug me as well.

When I was at OCS, we had to do flag raising & lowering every day, we got "smoked" for messing up flag ceremony more than anything anything else while at officer candidate school. so while I dont expect civillians to have the same level of attention to detail, I expect them, especially govt offices, to at least know the basics..

 

[TouchDown]

The flag etiquette does bother me. I had a flag at the home, and I know I didn't display it appropriately, but I think I'll try harder. Each flag sold should have the information with it on how to properly use it.

Guess though... some would just take it home and use the paper instructions as kindling to burn it.

That's the shit that really gets me fired up. I can understand free speech, but I still don't understand how burning the American Flag is a protected right of free speech.

 

[MetroRAFB]

Ask Don Imus about it sometime.

:thumbs:

 

[RIP - VTEnviro]

To me, the whole ettiquette thing was never a big deal. If you're trying to fly it proudly, close enough is fine with me.

The flag burning doesn't particularly bother me. I'm not particularly big into displays of nationalism or symbolism. If you're standing around burning it, good for you. It's when you try and harm me or my rights that I have a problem.

 

[TouchDown]

If burning a flag is free speech and accepted, then why can't I go drop a duce on the whitehouse lawn and it be completely legal? I'd definately be making a statement!

I am certainly OK with the american stars and stripes on bikinis / etc. though!!!

 

[Hill William]

I am certainly OK with the american stars and stripes on bikinis / etc. though!!!

That is the only piece of clothing I find acceptably made out of a flag.

 

[jfusilloPE]

Hey guys,

How about a little flag trivia?

1.) Where are the only 3 places that the United States Flag is authorized to fly 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year.

2.) How many trucks are on a military installation, and what is in the trucks?

I'll give you some time before I post the answers.

(These were actual promotion board questions).

 

[FlyPaper]

I get pissed when people fly it in the dark with no lights and in the rain, both no-no's. But of course if you were to try and say something about it you would probably be called a terrorist.

I agree that flag etiquite is important, but quite frankly, I am just happy to see that people care enough to fly the flag, sometimes that seems like to much to ask of people. :unitedstates:

 

[FlyPaper]

Hey guys,
How about a little flag trivia?

1.) Where are the only 3 places that the United States Flag is authorized to fly 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year.

2.) How many trucks are on a military installation, and what is in the trucks?

I'll give you some time before I post the answers.

(These were actual promotion board questions).

1. Congress, the White House, The Tomb of the Unknowns

2. One, a pistol, a bullet, a match

Am I correct?

 

[jfusilloPE]

1. See Official US Flag Link that specifically answers this question
2. Urban Legend, see Snopes Article on this topic

These were actual NCO promotion board questions and the answers are:

1. The Lincoln Memorial, the Tomb of the Unknow Soldier and the Moon.

2. Eventhough snopes denounces the truck theory, for esprit de corps purposes it is still maintined that there is only one truck on any US military installation. Inside the truck is a razor blade, a bullet and a book of matches. If the installation is overrun, you are to climb to the top of the flagploe, remove the items, climb down. Once down, you are to lower the flag, cut the stars from the stripes with the razor blade and burn each separate, you are then supposed to load your weapon with the last round and not be taken as a POW.

 

[FlyPaper]

The moon, good one. I hadn't heard of that. I like the answers to that promotion board question.

I was pretty close, but then again, I have heard several versions of both of those questions. I agree, they are great for Esprit De Corps type things.