A new Patriotic View

United States Code Title 4 Chapter 1 — The Flag






§9. Conduct during hoisting, lowering or passing of flag


During the ceremony of hoisting or lowering the flag or when the flag is passing in a parade or in review, all persons present in uniform should render the military salute. Members of the Armed Forces and veterans who are present but not in uniform may render the military salute. All other persons present should face the flag and stand at attention with their right hand over the heart, or if applicable, remove their headdress with their right hand and hold it at the left shoulder, the hand being over the heart. Citizens of other countries present should stand at attention. All such conduct toward the flag in a moving column should be rendered at the moment the flag passes


http://www.ushistory.org/betsy/flagcode.htm

So last night July 10, 2010 my wife and I attended a local Fireman’s parade, like many held throughout the US. I was setting on the sidewalk before the activities started and I could not just sit there a burning in my heart was intense concerning our American Flag and how we should respect it. So I got up and approached the platform where the so called dignitaries were and spoke to one asking a favor, could they announce that all persons should show proper respect for the American Flag. I also asked that they have a moment of silence for the five members of the Armed Forces that lost their life that day. I then told them that I had a son currently in Afghanistan and I would appreciate it. I was never more upset with the way they handled it bumbling through it and lacking neither any kind of significance to what I said nor the importance of it.

As the American Flag passed several times I stood with my wife, hands over the heart, as it passed by I watched through the corner of my eye as so many if any at all saw fit nor to respect our Flag.

Has our American Flag become just another common icon like a Campbell’s soup label or an Elvis picture. Over and over again complacency has taken root in our society. I was one of those who in the past lacked understanding for the American Flag and the proper respect. It was about 20 or so years ago when I started on my own personal crusade to show respect for the American Flag. I would stand at attention and place my hand over my heart, not my hat as so many do, I would take my hat in my left hand and place it at my side and the my right hand was free to cover my heart. However since then it’s not really caught on and after this morning’s deeper searching into the background of the American Flag I became more upset. President George Bush disrespected our American Flag in many ways and he is the good guy from Texas I thought the President or his aide would know protocol so as not to offend our American Flag. I am going to ask at the very least read the section 9 again and salute this emblem for freedom. We at the very least should do that. If you really want to bring back patriotism and protocol for this “blood bought” sign of freedom then read the American Flag Code. Pass it on to local fire departments police, fire, school and other government agencies contact your local Tea Party and have them read it

as well to make sure they don’t violate the American Flag. Contact your congressmen and ask if they understand the protocol for our American Flag. But please it is so important that our American Flag be placed where it should be as a sign of freedom that cost this country its most prized posseion the blood of many who rose to the occasion to defend it. .

So may God Bless our American Flag and may all who read this pass it on and be vocal, it is the last symbol to a world, that seeks refuge and freedom and wherever this American Flag goes there is a world that will see freedoms defenders. When I started writing this I said Flag, then I realized it’s not just a Flag but the American Flag that I am talking about.