The American flag was adopted by the Continental Congress on June 14, 1777. Since the 1860s the date has taken on a greater significance, some towns holding big parades to mark the event.
We admire the spirit shown in Douglas, where today businesses and residents are urged to unfurl Old Glory and put up patriotic decorations to stay up until Independence Day.
The Douglas 4th of July Committee is behind this drive, and it involves a decorating contest. The Douglas Volunteer Firefighters will judge participating properties at 5 p.m.
We hope this tradition spreads across the channel to the rest of Juneau.
Many folks put up holiday lights to brighten the dark days of winter, but why not start the tradition of a patriotic summer season where red, white and blue is seen not just on major holidays, but during the span between Memorial Day and July 4.
At this time, as our country fights two protracted foreign wars, we think the bunting and flags will remind those of us not directly affected by the level of sacrifice given by U.S. soldiers, airmen, sailors, Marines and Coast Guardsmen and their families.
The Empire proudly flies its new flag, the old one tattered at last by the Taku winds, and a new state flag as well. Join us today.
We leave you with six strange — but — true flag facts sent along by the Douglas 4th of July Committee, and also a little insight into the flag’s colors:
• Etiquette dictates that on Memorial Day flags should be flown at half-staff until noon.
• Annin & Co., in Roseland, N.J., is the biggest flag-maker in the U.S., churning out more than 10,000 types of flags and related products.
• You can sew your own: the precise specs are available at www.ushistory.org/betsy.
• Ralph Lauren’s company paid $10 million in 1998 to restore the actual anthem-inspiring ”Star-Spangled Banner,” now at the Smithsonian National Museum of American History.
• Is your flag tattered and torn? Local branches of the Boy Scouts and the American Legion will burn it for you in a dignified manner.
• Impress your pals: vexillology is the word for “flag studies.”
• According to the website www.usflag.org, “The colors red, white, and blue did not have meanings for the Stars and Stripes when it was adopted in 1777. However, the colors in the Great Seal did have specific meanings. Charles Thompson, secretary of the Continental Congress, reporting to Congress on the seal, stated: “The colors of the pales (the vertical stripes) are those used in the flag of the United States of America; White signifies purity and innocence, Red, hardiness & valour, and Blue, the color of the Chief (the broad band above the stripes) signifies vigilance, perseverance & justice.”
Comments (24)
Add commentBe careful
Pride in our nation is okay...but people get a little carried away with our flag and the etiquette sometimes.
I once heard someone refer to it as "flag worship."
Nice Article:
I bet if you fought in war or possibly knew someone who died protecting this precious icon of this great nation, you might feel different.
I fly the flag most of the year, winter time is hard on them so I put it away. Glad to here about the Boy Scouts I have a flag that is in very bad shape.
Flag etiquette
I for one believe the expectations under the US Flag Code are far from "flag worship." It is a matter of respect by following a few fundamental practices.
I find it frustrating when I see a flag being displayed like some forgotten object. I remember well the American spirit that showed after 911. However some folks nailed a flag to the wall and it has since turned into a mangled representation of anything but American virtues and beliefs. I imagine those folks have forgotten why the put the flag on the wall to begin with.
From my perspective if you can not follow a few simple guidelines have the fortitude to just not pretend you care and don't fly or display our flag.
I hate to break it to you,
I hate to break it to you, Milspec., but the people in our military actually fight for the country itself, not the flag. I know in your mind the flag is this idealized, utopian symbol of a Republican country in which WASPs hold upper-tier status and all the lesser demographics know their place, but in reality it's just a flag. No one fights for a flag, and you'd do well to stop fetishizing it.
The less substance something has, the easier it is to be enthusiastic about it. That's why you have millions of flag-worshippers in the U.S. who don't actually do anything to help the country/world progress.
The Flag and Freedom
Far more freedoms are lost in the halls of our own Congress or before the Supreme Court than to any foreign enemy half a world away. It seems that every time we fight a war we lose freedom rather than gaining it. Fighting for the flag is more often an act of fighting to keep very rich people very rich. Those people just love it when we wave the flag and sacrifice our children before the altar of their greed.
Really now:
PP you really can't be for real! What have you done for this country besides put it down? You are right; the U.S. flag is a symbol of this country. You fight for one you fight for both. I would like to see you confront a battled harden soldier look him in the face and tell him the same. One more thing, those who have known me over the years posting in the JE, know that I am retired from the military, getting ready to retire a second time in a couple years. I am a veteran of 2 wars, so don't tell me about what we fought for unless you have picked up a weapon and joined me.
The Flag is our national symbol...
It is the symbol of our great and troubled nation. That symbol stands for "We The People". Do not make the symbol of our nation more important than what the symbol stands for. It stands for "We The People", period. We The People are the important part. The Flag is our symbol. Nothing more. Nothing less. It is appropriate to acknowledge those who died with honor in military service to our country. It is also appropriate to note that many have lost their lives in conflicts which were generated by misguided politicians, in actions our country has later determined to be a mistake. Just remember, the Flag is not our country, We The People are our country.
Well said Milspec. PP is
Well said Milspec. PP is nothing more than an adolescent pot stirrer.
@Milspec.: good, if you
@Milspec.: good, if you understand that the flag is merely a symbol, then stop salivating over it and treating it as a demi-god. All that does is give people an excuse to fly the flag and feel like they've done something when in fact they've done nothing.
Also, I don't really care if you were in the military or not. Sorry. Thanks for your service, but we also have a military fetish problem in this country, and your service does NOT make you more an authority on patriotism or this country than a civilian.
Can't stop laughing:
PP, I sure would hate to be walking in you're shoes. I would say a coward at best. Don't thank me for my service' I can smell a worthless fool from a mile away. Just be thankful you can comment on these issues. If not for the military fighting for you’re rights as an American you would most likely have you’re head lopped off for you’re views. You are nothing but a waste of time for me and others.
Well, you haven't learned manners, that's for sure.
Not sure why you are laughing...Your name-calling of another blogger is typical, and childish. If you wish your views to be reasonably considered, I would advise you to re-think your approach to discourse with others you disagree with.
@Milspec.: unless you fought
@Milspec.: unless you fought in World War II, you did not fight in any war that involved an actual threat to the U.S.
Modesty is a virtue, and since you obviously think yourself better than those who haven't been in the military, you are obviously lacking.
Sorry Wolf:
You are right, got caught up in the issue. I do understand if you feel tempted to answer to a fool, don’t do it. Ignore them, even if you feel like screaming to them. Your silence will prevent you from converting to their cult of foolishness. If you argue with a fool, you’ll become a fool just like them, and you’ll make a fool of yourself! I will re-think my thinking.
I am an American...
This is a statement behind all the statements made so far. What I find disturbing is an opinion like flag worship or putting up a flag means nothing. My ancestral lands were taken by the mere flying of this flag. Despite this many Native Americans and Alaskan Natives have and continue to serve in the military. I don't worship the flag but I am proud when it is displayed properly. I like to believe in our country's motto: "In God We Trust", I am proud of our country's emblem nicknamed "Old Glory", I am proud of our men and women who have served and are serving in the military who will protect this country and its citizens against enemies foreign and domestic but yet do other duties in the face of all critics.
Goocheesh:
Nothing more from me on this matter. Very well said Goocheesh. Thank you.
Milspec-i to am ex-military
Milspec-i to am ex-military and served in the first Iraq war. And although the flag may mean more to us,i refuse to let other peoples opinion ruin how i feel. That being said-my flag flies year round and is always in above average condition. I bleed American red and not one person can take away what i did to serve this awesome country. We have our faults,obviously,but i wouldnt live anywhere else. I say fly the flag if you want,if not,so be it-but nobody will tell me i have to take mine down. Semper Fi
A couple of thank yous.
Thank you to the Empire staff, for printing this article. Flag Day often seems like one of the forgotten holidays. It may not be a day off from work, but it is a US holiday.
Thank you again, to Milspec and other vets for your service to our nation. One of my favorite Quotes is "Freedom has a flavor the protected will never know."
And finally, thank you to the folks who are speaking out in opposition of observance of Flag Day. While I may disagree with your view, one of the many freedoms that we vets defended was freedom of speech.
For anyone that would like to learn more about flag etiquette, it is covered in detail in US Code Title 4, Chapter 1.
God Bless America
AKJarhead:
Thanks for serving. I had to chime back in on you’re post. Sometimes you get caught up with individuals who do not respect this country. Or the respect of those who have given their life or that of a loved one. However, that is their right.
Semper Fortis.
As a Boy Scout, I retired a
As a Boy Scout, I retired a number of flags. I remember very well the reverence involved in each ceremony. I remember the awe, the feeling that an old friend was being laid to rest. It instilled in me a respect for the ideals of our country.
But I also recognize PP's point. The flag is still merely a symbol, and raising it alone is no large patriotic feat. Many people do nothing more for their country than raising a flag - idolatry masquerading as patriotism. A man who raises his flag year-round but does not vote is far less patriotic in my mind than a man who has never even owned a flag but votes in every election.
Further, for many, the flag is a symbol for blind nationalism. Nothing good comes out of nationalism.
So by all means, raise your flag, but that alone does not make you a patriot. For me, today is just a day; the flag incurs no less respect on any other day of the year.
First off, Thank you to the
First off, Thank you to the military personnel, both active and retired.
As to the flag just being a peice of cloth, I disagree. It is not to be worshiped, but respected. I do not treat it as an idol, nor would I dream of disrespecting it. Nor would I disrespect the flag of any other nation. I would not disrespect the Bible, the Koran or any other holy book. Churches and synagogues, ancient burial grounds or Arlington cemetary. It doesn't matter. They are all worthy of respect and should be treated as such. It isn't worship, it's respect and common decency.
Yes, respect is fine. Respect
Yes, respect is fine. Respect is good. No dispute there. But it goes beyond that in the U.S., I think. Remember when pundits were criticizing Obama because he didn't have a flag lapel pin on during speeches and interviews? That's what I'm talking about. When symbols become more important than the things they represent, we have a problem.
I guess it depends on your perspective.
PP, to me, there is a marked lack of respect anymore for our national symbol. Just a for instance. My family has attended many of the 4th of July parades. In all of them, I have seen at least 3 color guards, usually more. The vast majority of the people just stand there, although many may cheer the groups represented. According to the US Flag Code, 1. servicemembers in or out of uniform, will render a hand salute, 2. US citizens will place their right hand over their heart, 3. men wearing hats will remove their hats, and hold it to their left shoulder, hand over heart, 4. citizens of other nations will stand at attention.
Sorry, but to me, it's somewhat contradictory to attend an event celebrating our Nation, and then ignore it's symbol. One of the few times that I see the public at least make an attempt, is at sporting events when the National Anthem is performed.
If I hadn't missed the thing with Pres. Obama, I would have dismissed it. Political pundits are kind of like partisan stand up comics. Whatever will get a reaction. At most speeches the President will have the US flag on display on his right, the audiences left. This should eliminate the need for a lapel pin.
Remember when...
Remember when Reagan-era republipukes would introduce divisive legislation to make it a federal offense to desecrate the flag?
Yes, republicans tried to pass actual constitutional amendments "protecting" the flag, and to imprison anyone who wouldn't engage in their flag worship. "Desecration" was loosely defined.
And those same republipukes proudly trampled on the First Amendment as they did it. The flag became more important to them than our Constitution.
This brought all the Archie Bunker types out of the woodwork, and they painted anyone opposed to this legislation as unpatriotic. This got republicans vote.
Ever been to an airport and see the flag pasted backwards on the right side of a plane? It's all silliness!
Stop worshiping the flag. Start voting more.
Flag Day, great tradition.
Personally I don't care if anyone worships it, it's not illegal nor the weirdest thing I've ever heard of. Freedom of/from religion, all that. Just don't knock on my door trying to sell me a magic one on the weekend under pain of eternal torture.
Mike