A national day of observance
It was during the American Revolution the Continental Congress decided the flag of the United States should be 13 red and white alternating stripes. The Union would be represented by thirteen stars of white on a blue field, representing a new constellation. This flag was modeled after the Grand Union flag that was carried in the Continental Army in 1776. It is said that Betsy Ross designed this flag at the request of George Washington, but historians have found no physical proof of this. When new states were added to the Union they added more stripes and stars, but in 1818 Congress made a law stipulating that only stars would be added and the 13 original stripes would remain. The first Flag Day was observed on June 14 in 1877. But it wasn’t official until Congress designated Flag Day as national day of observance on June 14, 1949.
There is a thing called flag etiquette that is expected when displaying the American flag. The flag will only be displayed from sunrise to sunset, to be displayed 24 hours it must be properly illuminated. The flag should be hoisted briskly but lowered ceremoniously. When the flag is displayed either horizontally or vertically against a wall the Union blue should be the uppermost into the flag’s own right, that is to the observers left, when displayed in the window it should be to the left of the observer in the street. No other flag or pendant should be placed above it or on the same level. Within the United States or any territory of, or possession of, shall display the flag of the United Nations or any other national of international flag equal, above, or in a position of superior prominence or honor to, or in place of, the flag of the United States. When flags are sharing the same Hilliard the US flag should always be at the peak, when flags are flown from adjacent flagpoles the US flag should be hoisted first and lowered last. If displaying flags against a wall from cross staffs the American flag should be on the right. When flags of two or more nations are displayed, they are to be flown from separate staffs of the same height, and approximately the same size. International usage forbids the display of the flag of one nation above that of another nation in time of peace. When the American flag is to be flown at half-staff proper procedure is: to first hoist to the peak, let it remain for an instant, then lowered to the half-staff position. When lowering it for the day it should be raised to the peak first and then lowered ceremoniously. These are some days that the American flag should be flown at half-staff: *May 15th- Peace Officers Memorial Day *last Monday in May, Memorial Day, (half-staff until noon only, then raised to the top of the staff) *July 27th- Korean War Veterans Armistice Day *September 11th- Patriot Day December 7th- Pearl Harbor Day. The president has ordered that flag should be flown at half-staff upon the death of principal figures of the United States government, governor of a state or territory, as a mark of respect to their memory. This is often done in memory of foreign dignitaries in the event of a death of a present or former official of the government of any state. Little-known fact; flags flown on poles that are fixed to the house or building are not to be flown at half-staff, but a memorial streamer can be affixed to the top of the flagpole to signify half-staff. When draping a casket with an American flag the field of blue stars should be over the head of casket and the left shoulder of the deceased.
Old glory is a nickname for the flag of the United States. It was penned by William Driver who at 13 ran away to become a cabin boy upon a ship. At the age of 21 he became a master mariner and his mother and a group of ladies from Salem sewed an American flag and gave it to him has a gift in 1824. He flew this flag over his ship from China, India, and Gibraltar and many other colorful career moves. In 1831 on voyage to the South Pacific, six ships departed on the same day. Drivers vessel was the sole survivor, picking up 65 ( descendants of HMS bounty) serviving sailors and brought them back to the Pitcairn Island. Drivers is said to have been convinced that God saved his ship because he flew the American flag. He called it his staunch companion, and protector, and took it back with him when he retired from the sea in 1837 to Nashville Tennessee. In 1860 Driver had his wife and daughters repair the flag and sew on 10 more stars, and that was about the time the secession crisis had begun and Drivers family was split, and two of his sons joined the Confederate Army. Several times during the Civil War the Confederates tried to take his flag, that he would display proudly on holidays, but he would not give it up. He finally had his wife sew it inside a coverlet to disguise it and keep it safe. When Tennessee fell to the Union Army he took the flag to the Tennessee State Capital and gave it to them and the 6th Ohio Infantry adopted the motto “Old Glory”
When the American flag becomes worn, faded, torn, or soiled it should be retired and replaced with the new flag. There are several ways to dispose of the retired flag such as to bury the flag, which requires a dignified wooden box of high quality construction, in which a properly folded flag would be placed to be buried in the ground. Another way is for the flag to be burned in a special ceremony, and the best way to do this is to put it in the drop box of your local VFW post for the proper disposal of the American flags.
The American flag should not touch anything beneath it including the ground. It should not be flown in inclement weather usless it is an all-weather flag and it is illuminated. There are rules of decorum in handling the flag properly, it’s folding, it’s displaying, and it’s hoisting. All these rules and regulations are done with the deepest respect and honor bestowed on the Ensign of the United States of America.
As parents it is important for us to teach our children respect and honor, to our veterans and to the flag for which they died, ensuring our freedom. I make it a habit to teach my grandchildren to stand, and placed their hands on their hearts during parades when the American flag goes by out of respect. The people of this country have become complacent in giving respect to church, to the Bible, to veterans, and the American flag which represent our freedom to worship and those who made it possible. Just as the cross is a reminder of the sacrificed made in our behalf by Jesus Christ.
We as writers have the opportunity to bring back some of the customs and respect this country has lost over time for our war heroes, our flag, and our national anthem. Just incorporate them and the honor they deserve in our writings as a form of remembrance, for the people who have forgotten what they learned in their youth. Most traditions are worthy to be remembered and respected, like the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag.
And the children of Israel shall pitch their tents, every man by his own camp, and every man by his own standard, throughout their hosts.
Numbers 1:52
So shall they fear the name of the Lord from the west, and his glory from the rising of the sun. When the enemy shall come in like a flood, the Spirit of the Lord shall lift up a standard against him.
Isaiah 59:19
Go through, go through the gates; prepare ye the way of the people; cast up, cast up the highway; gather out the stones; lift up a standard for the people.
Isaiah 62:10
We will rejoice in thy salvation, and in the name of our God we will set up our banners: the Lord fulfil all thy petitions.
Psalms 20:5