I see a lot of flags on new construction that violate one or more of the laws regulating their installation and display. I just ran across this while checking a flagpole submittal for compliance and thought it would be worth posting as a reminder.
http://www.flagpoles.com/cetiquette.html
If we fail to catch a cosmic fish it may be a trillion years before the opportunity comes again
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I'm just happy to see people display them, rather than some wacko anti-war hippie wannabe burning them. The bimbo's on the beach with the flag as a bikini isn't much better.
Thanks Kevin.
The flag hanging from the high crane always seems nice but still misses the mark.
Jon Blakemore
The US Flag Code isn't a "law" in the sense that anyone ever gets arrested or fined for violating it.
I'd like to see the SPIRIT of the Flag Code in more use - retire a flag when it becomes worn or tattered, show respect, etc. I am less worried about the LETTER of the code and the nuances of, for instance, which way the field goes if it on the stage at the speaker's level versus at the audience's, etc - I remember that stuff from Boy Scouts, but clearly most people don't.
The blindly "patriotic" - the rednecks in a jacked-up truck with a "kill the towelheads" bumper sticker and a US flag battered by a month of 65 mph - seem the worst offenders.
Politicians and retailers are the next worst offenders. Both our local mayors wear US Flag clothing contrary to the Flag Code. And what retailer doesn't use the flag in July 4th, President's day, etc, advertisements?
Scouts, veterans and active miltary seem to be most careful and thoughtful. Not only in the letter of the code but also in the spirit of showing respect.
The primary construction issues I see are flag poles without lights at the base - With the changing seasons dark falls long before many retailers close and the flag remains aloft but unlit. I see flags from time to time placed at a prominent spot on public properties but away from the administration building.
I'm not innocent myself. Here is a paint scheme I worked up for a local outdoor stadium we were doing renovation design for right after 9/11. That's why I posted the reminder - I may not need it as much as Kid Rock did at the superbowl but I'm not immune from innocent error in the name of patriotism. Fortunately, while everyone loved the paint scheme, the funding wasn't there to implement it.
If we fail to catch a cosmic fish it may be a trillion years before the opportunity comes again
GWA.....I sure don't mean any disrespect to you or your post but the first image that went through my mind when seeing "Flag Pole Considerations" was Iwo Jima.
The thing that irks me is watching athletes (particularly at the Olympics) draping the flag over their shoulders and letting it drag on the ground behind them as they run their victory laps.
I think it all started with the 'Miracle on Ice' 1980 Olympic hockey team; that was a great thing to watch but they set a bad precedent.
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