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As a mark of respect for the memory of Senator Edward M. Kennedy, I hereby order, by the authority vested in me by the Constitution and laws of the United States of America, that the flag of the United States shall be flown at half-staff at the White House and upon all public buildings and grounds, at all military posts and naval stations, and on all naval vessels of the Federal Government in the District of Columbia and throughout the United States and its Territories and possessions until sunset on August 30, 2009.

The city today scrapped plans to take down some of its 60 odd flags after the mayor and city council members received a barrage of angry emails and telephone calls over the weekend, some of them from veterans. City Manager Bill Horne's staff had recommended slightly more than a dozen flags – out of 59 – be removed to save the city money. Some flags were on property no longer maintained by the city. Others were at maintenance buildings or the like that were far out of the public eye. Mayor Frank Hibbard and city council members were rankled that...

CLEARWATER — Here's probably the most bizarre casualty of shrinking government budgets you'll hear. The city of Clearwater can no longer afford to fly the American flag. Clearwater's parks and recreation director ordered the removal of 13 flagpoles from across the city this week saying budget cuts have made it impossible to properly care for the flags. "Over the last three years, the parks and recreation staff has been reduced by 25 percent,'' explained director Kevin Dunbar. "When you have a flagpole, you have certain responsibilities. The flag has to be lit at night, if a flag has a rip...

It's interesting to see what the different search engines thing of Flag Day this year. Here's a short list:DogpileBingGoogleHmmmm...

David Brenner, manager of Prairie Home Cemetery, reported Tuesday that 39 flags were taken from the graves of military veterans. Brenner said thefts seldom occur at the Waukesha cemetery, but he decided to report the incident to police.

WASHINGTON, May 22, 2009 – More than 3,000 servicemembers officially kicked off the Memorial Day commemoration last evening as they placed more than 250,000 miniature flags at every grave at Arlington National Cemetery. Airman Jacob Proffer, a member of the Air Force Honor Guard, pauses to salute a grave after placing a miniature flag at its base during the “Flags In” tribute at Arlington National Cemetery, May 21, 2009. “When I do this, it makes me take a lot more pride every time I put on my uniform, seeing the measure of sacrifice so many have made,” he said....

The terrorist attacks on America of September 11, 2001 resulted in a wave of patriotism that had not been seen in decades. The shared enthusiasm for the country and the flag were strong and widespread. It created difficulties for reporters, however, who try to professionally earn and keep people's trust by avoiding personal partisan displays while reporting the news. It was not only ABC but many other media outlets who struggled with trying to preserve their image as journalists

An enduring and accurate accusation of the Bush administration is a reluctance to admit to mistakes. Bush and/or his operative eventually confess when it becomes painfully obvious that they screwed one or more pooches. Obama is made from the same unsavory cloth. ... The problem is not so much that Obama did a dumb, dumb thing. We all do, and I for one have scars to prove many of my mistakes (and, no I cannot reveal the names of those mistakes but will leave it to say that I did have fun earning those particular scars). But Obama refused to...

THE AUSTIN HILL RADIO SHOW -- ON NOW -- 630 WMAL, WASHINGTON, DC DISCUSSING THE 12,000 FLAGS LEFT AT INVESCO FIELD BY THE DEMS AFTER OBAMA'S 'CORONATION' LISTEN LIVE: http://www.630wmal.com/Article.asp?id=453473 http://radiotime.com/station/s_30888/WMAL_630.aspx

<p>To follow up on the previous report, I spoke today with the Public Information Officer from the Denver Police Department. The PIO confirmed what I had learned when speaking with other PD personnel two days ago -- that the DemocRATic National Committee has not made a police report regarding thousands of stolen flags after their little Greek tragedy in Denver.</p>

Democratic vice presidential nominee Sen. Joe Biden, D-Del., his wife, Jill, center, and Michelle Obama, wife of Democratic presidential nominee, Sen. Barack Obama, D-Ill., applaud during talk on the final night at the Democratic National Convention in Denver, Thursday, Aug. 28, 2008. (AP Photo/Chris Carlson)

There's a bit of a brewing tempest about 12,000 flags discovered in the trash after the Democratic convention in Denver. Fox News reports that the Democrats tossed them in the trash. The Obama campiagn says they didn't toss the flags in the trash, that they wouldn't mistreat the flag like that. Here is AP photo number 467 from the last night of convention. The AP caption reads Democratic vice presidential nominee Sen. Joe Biden, D-Del., his wife, Jill, center, and Michelle Obama, wife of Democratic presidential nominee, Sen. Barack Obama, D-Ill., applaud during talk on the final night at the...

THE STORY FROM ABC IN DENVER As many of you have heard, there is a flag controversy between the Republicans and the DemocRATS. The RNC is claiming that it save about 12,000 Americans flags leftover from Invesco Field in Denver. The claim is that they were headed for the dumpster. The DemocRATS are claiming that the flags were "stolen" and never intended for the dumpster. They claim that they were in storage and were either to be used again or donated. If 12,000 flags were stolen, I would think that a police report would have been filed. In a...

Nine pictures; see the flags the democrats threw away in Denver. Veterans rounded up the ones that were not covered in garbage and gave them to McCain's campaign. They were passed out at today's rally in Colorado Springs, CO. Made a big splash... lots of boos for the dems. They were really waving when Lee Greenwood's song "I'm proud to be an American" was sung. [my first post and first use of pictures...hope it works] http://i406.photobucket.com/albums/pp147/RCFlyer24/IMG_2738.jpg http://i406.photobucket.com/albums/pp147/RCFlyer24/IMG_2744.jpg http://i406.photobucket.com/albums/pp147/RCFlyer24/IMG_2735.jpg http://i406.photobucket.com/albums/pp147/RCFlyer24/IMG_2747.jpg http://i406.photobucket.com/albums/pp147/RCFlyer24/IMG_2755.jpg http://i406.photobucket.com/albums/pp147/RCFlyer24/IMG_2759.jpg http://i406.photobucket.com/albums/pp147/RCFlyer24/IMG_2773.jpg http://i406.photobucket.com/albums/pp147/RCFlyer24/IMG_2790.jpg http://i406.photobucket.com/albums/pp147/RCFlyer24/IMG_2786.jpg

Hundreds of flags that were discarded by the DNC and headed to the trash were rescued and are being given out today at the McCain-Palin Rally in CO. It is unclear as to how the flags were discovered, some were reportedly discovered by a vendor by a dumpster. The flags were stuffed into dozens of black garbage bags and others were crammed into a supply closet awaiting disposal...Developing details...

Just heard on Fox News. The Boy Scouts filled dozens of large trash bags with US Flags that were trampled on the ground or thrown near trash receptacles at the Democrat Convention. They are going to hold a flag-retirement ceremony to properly honor those flags that were dishonored.

This morning, Republicans tell me that a worker at Invesco Field in Denver saved thousands of unused flags from the Democratic National Convention that were headed for the garbage. Guerrilla campaigning. They will use these flags at their own event today in Colorado Springs with John McCain and Sarah Palin. Before McCain speaks today, veterans will haul these garbage bags filled with flags out onto the stage — with dramatic effect, no doubt — and tell the story. “What you see in the picture I sent you is less than half of total flags,” a Republican official emailed. “We estimate...

This morning, Republicans tell me that a worker at Invesco Field in Denver saved thousands of unused flags from the Democratic National Convention that were headed for the garbage. Guerrilla campaigning. They will use these flags at their own event today in Colorado Springs with John McCain and Sarah Palin. Before McCain speaks today, veterans will haul these garbage bags filled with flags out onto the stage — with dramatic effect, no doubt — and tell the story. “What you see in the picture I sent you is less than half of total flags,” a Republican official emailed. “We estimate...

Draconian rules imposed by the Chinese authorities mean that flags of any non-competing nation are likely to be confiscated from fans, who could be barred from venues if they refuse to comply. Athletes could even be disqualified from competing if they break the rules. Because Scotland, Wales, England and Northern Ireland are not individually represented at the games, only the Union Flag of Great Britain will be allowed inside the stadiums. The regulation is widely believed to be aimed at preventing supporters of an independent Tibet from making political statements by waving its flag, but it will be enforced...

Yesterday I marched in the annual Memorial Day parade on Staten Island. Aside from the fact that the sun was shinning which was something that has not happened in a few years, there was one more odd feature to the procession. For the first time I can remember all the local Democrats were there and all were waving American flags. All the flags were the same size and all of the Democrats were walking just ahead of my group, the Marine Corps League. In the past, if they showed up they always sat on the reviewing stand and left soon...

Old Guard Soldier Master Sgt. Steven Colbert places a flag on a gravesite at Arlington National Cemetery. This year he brought along his son, Jordan, 8, to assist. Photo by Adam Skoczylas FORT MYER, Va. (Army News Service, May 23, 2008) -- The 3rd U.S. Infantry Regiment (The Old Guard) began their rounds Thursday afternoon to place a small American flag into the ground in front of every grave marker at Arlington National Cemetery. The Old Guard became the Army's official ceremonial unit in 1948 and on that Memorial Day every available member of the regiment stood one foot in...

DES MOINES, Iowa - A state lawmaker who served in Iraq wants to ban U.S. or Iowa flags that are made in other countries. Rep. Ray Zirkelbach, D-Monticello, said he would introduce a bill that would prohibit the sale of foreign-made flags in Iowa. "I personally don't want my coffin draped in a Chinese-made flag when I pass away," Zirkelbach said. Under the proposal, business owners an operators could face fines of up to $625 if they sell a flag made in another country. They also could face up to 30 days in jail. The measure also would apply to...

Northampton police have arrested a man in connection with a string of flag burnings around western Massachusetts. A typewritten note left at the home and signed by the "American Patriot Liberation Front" claimed the United States was oppressing millions of people around the world. Similar incidents were reported in Palmer, Greenfield and Amherst.

Then, on Sunday, everything started falling down around her. After a very Presidential-esque news conference - Clinton turned around to leave the reporters and their peppering questions. A staffer swooped open a curtain, and chaos ensued. Four large American flags came crashing in front of Senator Clinton as she headed for the door. In a controlled panic, the staffers and the Senator attempted to catch the flags before they fell to the ground. "I think the bases are not weighted enough." Clinton said as she propped flags back up.

WASHINGTON — The Architect of the Capitol, responding to a public outcry, ruled Thursday that, from now on, the word "God" may be inscribed on certificates accompanying flags that have flown over the U.S. Capitol. Acting Architect Stephen T Ayers said in a statement that the policy of disallowing political and religious statements on flag certificates has been inconsistently applied and does not fulfill the objectives of the office. "It is inappropriate and beyond the scope of this agency’s responsibilities to censor messages from members," Ayers said. The issue gained widespread attention this week after 17-year-old Andrew Larochelle of Dayton,...

A banner once displayed in front of an abandoned Al-Qaeda safehouse in Iraq has found a new home at a US military museum.The three-meter-long (10-foot-long) black flag, recovered by a battalion of Marines in Fallujah in November 2004, is now on display at the National Museum of the Marine Corps in Triangle, Virginia.The flag "is believed to be the same banner seen in the atrocious videos broadcast all over the world displaying the torture and executions of many innocent civilians by insurgents and terrorists," according to the text accompanying the exhibit.The flag was found, the narrative went on to say,...

SAMPSON COUNTY, N.C. – On the sixth anniversary of the Sept. 11 attacks, students at one high school were not allowed to wear clothes with an American Flag. Under a new school rule, students at Hobbton High School are not allowed to wear items with flags, from any country, including the United States. The new rule stems from a controversy over students wearing shirts bearing flags of other countries. Gayle Langston said her daughter, Jessica, was told to remove her stars and stripes t-shirt. “Today she wanted to wear her shirt, and I had to tell her no,” said Langston....

Saturday Night was an exiting and awesome night for every Bronco fan in Colorado especially for a group of soldiers belonging to the Colorado Army National Guard. They were volunteers who specifically had taken the duty for several reasons one of which was to see many of the professional athletes prior to deploying to Iraq. They had been told that they could be on the field during the game and that they would be given a gift card so they could enjoy a hotdog and coke while enjoying one of the pleasures so many of us take for granted every...

Boy Scouts set up and take down flags in northwest Boise and Eagle for a troop fundraiser. In the realm of delivering holiday cheer before dawn, there's Santa Claus, the Easter Bunny and a group of local Boy Scouts. Instead of presents or Easter eggs, the 16 Boy Scouts set up American flags for patriotic holidays, including Independence Day. Early Wednesday morning the crew planted the stars and stripes in 136 lawns scattered throughout northwest Boise and Eagle. The Scouts charge $30 for the service, which guarantees an American flag on President's Day, Memorial Day, Flag Day, the Fourth of...

As a staff member at the United Methodist Board of Church and Society, I am frequently asked questions that require me to go where "angels fear to tread." Questions about displaying national flags in the church's sanctuary take us into that treacherous terrain. Many United Methodist churches maintain a tradition of placing the United States flag in the sanctuary, by the altar, within the chancel, or at another prominent location on the church grounds. I heard of one case in which the U.S. flag actually covered the altar itself. So we must ask: Is this an appropriate use of the...

BOSTON -- Natick police said they were searching for whomever stuffed decorative American flags in trash receptacles around the town square and set them on fire. Authorities said an off-duty officer noticed a trash receptacle on fire in a Natick park near the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority station at about 4 p.m. on Thursday. "I will tell you -- I was very, very upset about this. This area, this park, Moran Park, is considered sacred ground by the veterans here in Natick," veteran John MacGillivray said. By Friday afternoon, the 12 flags had been replaced. "I am aware that people...

The flags have not come down. They are still posted on the front lawn of Alex Reza's home in Newhall - 250 of them, 18inches high, illuminated by a spotlight at night. The big, plywood placard listing the death toll and the question "How many more?" is gone, as are the 2-foot-tall crosses - but only because lawn signs are prohibited by the Peachland Estates Homeowners Association. But the flags remain. And far from taking them down, the 67-year-old retired high school government teacher said Friday he plans to add even more. "My goal is one flag for every 10...

(New Haven-AP) _ New Haven police have arrested three Yale University students and charged them with burning an American flag hanging from the porch of a Chapel Street home. The three are facing charges ranging from reckless endangerment to arson. Police identified the three as 23-year-old Said Hyder Akbar, 19-year-old Nikolaos Angelopoulos and 19-year-old Farhad Anklesaria. They were held in jail early yesterday and later arraigned in New Haven Superior Court. Bond was set at $25,000 for two of the suspects and $15,000 for the third. Anklesaria and Angelopoulos are foreign students while Akbar was born in Pakistan, but is...

Flags Make Way From Iraq to America's Front Yards Mar 19, 2007 BY Spc. Susan Blair An American flag blows in the wind in Northern Iraq. After the flag is lowered by a paratrooper from 1st Squadron, 73rd Cavalry Regiment, it will become available to purchase through the units Family Readiness Group. Photo by Spc. Susan Blair NORTHERN IRAQ (Army News Service, March 19, 2007) - Since paratroopers of the 73rd Cavalry Regiment's 1st Squadron set foot in Iraq, they've raised and lowered a new flag every hour on the hour. Each flag has then become available for purchase through...

Made in the USA could become a Minnesota standard. That’s because the Minnesota House voted today to require American flags sold in Minnesota stores to be made in America. Attempts to add in amendments criminalizing flag burning and requiring anyone who voted for the bill to drive an American-made car did not make the cut. Opponents of the measure say foreign flag makers may consider American ideals in the process of making the flags. Penalties weren’t laid out in the legislation, which has yet to be passed by the Senate.

Saturday, March 10, 2007 BRAVE NEW SCHOOLSStudents facing charges of 'desecration of Allah'Hamas, Hezbollah flags used in college Republicans protest Posted: March 10, 20071:00 a.m. Eastern © 2007 WorldNetDaily.com Hezbollah flag College Republicans at San Francisco State University desecrated the name of Allah by stepping on makeshift Hezbollah and Hamas flags, charged school officials who brought the students before a hearing yesterday. The trouble began at an Oct. 17 anti-terrorism rally in which the students stepped on butcher paper painted to resemble the flags of the Middle East terrorist organizations Hamas and Hezbollah. The College Republicans say they simply copied the...

"On the morning of February 23, he saw the first U.S. flag go up on Suribachi's peak, followed shortly thereafter by the second, larger flag, the raising of which was immortalized at 1/400th second in Rosenthal's famous photograph. Akikusa's descriptions up to this point correspond completely to American accounts of the event. But what followed afterward appears to contradict the official U.S. Naval version of the battle. The following morning, as Akikusa relates in his book, "It was not the Stars & Stripes, but the Nissho-ki (Japanese Sun flag) that was waving. Even though the peak was the target of...

New York firefighters have been forced to strip their lockers American flags, stickers expressing support for U.S. troops in Iraq and cards commemorating firefighters who died in the September 11, attacks, the firefighters' union said on Wednesday. The Uniformed Firefighters Association threatened to sue the New York Fire Department, claiming it violated the free speech rights of New York's 8,800 firefighters and 2,500 fire officers. The action comes under an old policy more strictly enforced since early last month. A fire department spokesman said flags and commemorative cards were allowed but offensive material was not. "Over the past 18 months,...

F-35 Lightning II Initial Flight The F-35 Lightning II Joint Strike Fighter makes its initial flight Dec. 15 over Fort Worth, Texas. (Lockheed Martin photo/David Drais)

LOUISVILLE, Ky. - Female National Guard soldiers who posed nude for pictures before deploying Iraq will face "nonjudicial, administrative measures," the Army said. The women were not suspended and were "busy supporting the war effort," Maj. Jay Adams, chief of public affairs for the 13th Sustainment Command (Expeditionary), told The Courier-Journal of Louisville on Tuesday. Adams said the investigation was conducted by commanders in Iraq and that he was barred from releasing more information about the sanctions by the federal Privacy Act. Administrative sanctions can include measures such as docking soldiers' pay or confining them to barracks. The allegations were...

I wrote last week that we'd see more outbreaks of anti-military vandalism leading up to Election Day. In upstate New York on Halloween eve, "(expletive) Bush" and a depiction of a penis were scrawled on the 20-by-40-foot flag and similar pictures in the same shade of green were painted on the American Legion Mohawk Post. Now there's this despicable act in Boise, Idaho reportedly committed by the sons of a state Democrat legislator: Police arrested 24-year old Michael Burkett of Boise early Sunday morning after officers with Capitol Mall Security reported spotting him vandalizing two flag polls on the grounds...

Organizers of a war memorial displayed at the University of Colorado were disappointed by last weekend's vandalism. Tens of thousands of flags, row upon row, line CU's Boulder campus. The white flags represent Iraqis and the red represent U.S. soldiers who've died. "When people walk through this, I wonder what does this do to them," said Juan Stewart, a memorial organizer. "This is the consequence of war. When the wind hits it like it is now, you just get to see the vastness of the numbers." Stewart knew not everyone would appreciate his display but said the vandals went too...

Great video, worth 2 minutes to understand how wonderful these guys are. Flags of our Fathers

The only flaw in France, a wise man once said, is the people who live there. This is harsh, and unkind to hundreds, maybe thousands of nice Frenchmen, but the men elected to govern France invariably succeed in living up to Marianne's speckled reputation.

The simple act of honoring soldiers who've been killed fighting in Afghanistan was turned into a full-fledged national flap this week when a small Canadian town's municipal union filed a grievance against a councilman who lowered the town's flag to half-staff. Councilor Hodgson Last month, when news arrived that an Edmonton-based medic had been killed south of Kandahar in a suicide attack, Councilor Lynn Philip Hodgson lowered the community's flag to honor the fallen soldier. Hodgson had introduced the motion to lower the flag earlier this year, following an increase in war casualties, and the council for Port Perry...

MARINE BARRACKS WASHINGTON, D.C., August 4, 2006 – Twenty-six Marine heroes were honored at a Medal of Honor flag presentation ceremony here yesterday. A crowd of more than 1,000 friends, family members and patriotic spectators watched as Marine Commandant Gen. Michael W. Hagee and Sgt. Maj. John L. Estrada, sergeant major of the Marine Corps, presented flags to 16 Medal of Honor recipients and family members of 10 other Medal of Honor recipients. "On behalf of all Marines, thank you for your service and example for the thousands of Marines that followed you," Hagee told the recipients. "Your legacy is...

Law Says Homeowner Groups Can't Bar Flag Flying   POSTED: 11:09 am EDT July 25, 2006 UPDATED: 12:25 pm EDT July 25, 2006   WASHINGTON -- President George W. Bush signed a bill on Monday that would bar condominium and homeowner associations from restricting how the American flag can be displayed. Sponsored by Rep. Roscoe Bartlett, R-Md., the resolution would prohibit those groups from preventing residents from displaying an American flag on their own property. It was passed unanimously by both the House and the Senate.   "Americans have long flown our flag as an expression of their appreciation...

A lifelong history buff, Gary Laube of Southold decided to spend several hundred dollars to buy an 18th-century trunk at an estate sale in his hometown in 1992 because it contained a woven 19th-century coverlet made by a member of one of the town's oldest families. It was only when he got his purchase home that he discovered a textile balled up in the bottom of the trunk -- one that has proved much more historically and financially valuable than the coverlet and that quickly launched him on an ongoing historical detective hunt. What the 52-year-old Revolutionay War re-enactor and...

Nicole Bengiveno/The New York Times At Sotheby's on Tuesday, Terry McAllister, left, and James Parker moved the Connecticut regimental battle flag. Sotheby'sOne of the Virginia infantry flags believed to have been captured by a British commander, Lt. Col. Banastre Tarleton, in a bloody battle in the Carolinas in May 1780. The war veterans who once revered them and followed them - and then lost them - are all long gone. But now, their battle standards, taken by the enemy, have at last returned to American soil after two and a quarter centuries. The flags are believed to date from...