Rest in peace President Reagan.
Posted on 06/07/2004 3:03:14 PM PDT by HighWheeler
As I was driving today on business, I noticed more than half of the American flags were still at flying at full staff. So I started jotting down these company’s names as I drove. I had a list of 26 in about 20 minutes. The other sad thing I noticed was how few places are flying Old Glory anymore. Over the weekend, I had put her back up at my house 5 minutes after I had heard Ronald Reagan had died.
So now I had this pile of offender’s names written down, so when I got to a computer at lunchtime, I started looking up and collecting the phone numbers. Then I started dialing up to ask them why they were not flying their flags at half-staff. All were somewhat shocked at the call. Some responses were unbelievable. I will highlight only a few.
First Call:
The first call was to a local city that had flags in a park flying full staff. The city’s operator was very nice and seemed almost embarrassed that the flags were still not lowered. She said she would get right on it and notify the proper people. Sure enough, in less than 45 minutes when I drove by again, the flags were flying properly.
I called one small business and it went like this:
HW: “I drove by your business this morning and I am calling to ask why your flag in front is not flying at half staff.”
Operator: Uh, I don’t know. Is there someone you would like speak with?
HW: Well, the American flag is supposed to be at half-staff.
Operator: “I don’t know why it’s not at half-staff.”
HW: (approaching a Hannity Man-on-the-Street moment) “Do you know why the flags are supposed to be at half staff?”
Operator: “Uhh,….It’s because of …..uhhhh, because the…..Uh…..< quietly> I don’t know.”
HW: “President Reagan died this weekend and it’s the way American honors the death of our Presidents.”
Operator: “I’ll tell them right away, is there anything else?
HW: “No thanks, you have a good day.”
The call to McDonalds:
HW: “I drove by a few of your businesses this morning and I am calling to ask why these stores are not flying the American flags at half staff.”
McD: “Uh, < long pause> There hasn’t been a directive put out.”
HW: “Oh, so are those stores are just out-of-touch?”
McD < half terse and mildly condescending>: “Well I don’t think so.”
HW: “So, they are doing this intentionally.”
McD: < really irritated> “I didn’t say that.”
HW: “Well, it’s one or the other. Either they are out of touch with America, or, if they're not out of touch as you claim, then they're doing it intentionally.”
McD: < much, much softer> “Uh, who are you?”
HW: “I am a customer.”
McD: “Would you like to speak to someone?”
HW: “No. Why don’t you carry the water for me on this one, OK?”
At the end of the day, every single one of the McDonald’s flags I saw were flying at half staff.
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Well the others were not as much fun, but obviously none of these businesses were aware of the flag etiquette, but all were aware that Ronald Reagan had died. After I drove home back the same way, I saw almost 100% compliance. Only 2 were still not lowered.
THANKS for the link, and thanks for all your work putting those up for us.
P.S. I think everyone should have flown their flags at half staff for D-Day anyway. Why is that not done?
BRAVO BRAVO!! Who says ONE PERSON can't make a difference. The problem is the "difference" only comes with ACTION.
You are right .. I too have been noticing. Here in San Diego, most people seem to be complying - being a military town. The only ones who I saw that were not complying, were flag poles in front of a couple of large commercial buildings which were empty. I suppose nobody has even thought about the flags there.
We have a lot of retired military here and I also noticed a lot of homes where I'm used to seeing flags - they were at half-staff.
Now .. I'm wondering if I should call the owners of those buildings and see if they will comply.
Oh yeah, I heard that President Bush had made a specific directive that flags on "federal" buildings should be at half-staff. I really don't think that includes commercial, although it is a nice gesture - since Reagan was a former Governor.
Had the same problem going to work, passing McDonalds, yesterday. Looked up the number and asked to speak to the manager. Clueless, jailbait voice comes on the line and I had to explain the fact of flag life to her. Flag is flying correctly today.
I think you are correct. I glanced at the Presidential Proclamation and seem to recall gov buildings will continue half-staff for 30 days.
University of Rochester got it right!
http://www.rochester.edu/aboutus/chapelwebcam.html
YGBSM!
If your flag is on an outrigger flagpole or mounted on a wall and cannot be flown at half-staff, it is appropriate to drape a purple and black mourning ribbon across the flag.
I do not plan to honor the rule when it applies to Demcraps. In which case it stays up at full mast period
Luigi
Yes, someone later posted that those flags remain 30 days from notification of death. Thanks.
Good job and I know you are just being enthusiast,
But please ask my permission before you use my ping list
what if she's out of office?
well, can I use it?
Our local McDonald's had their flags lowered to half-staff beginning Sunday morning, as have most of the other businesses I've seen around town.
I even saw one or two flags that cannot be lowered (the kind that have no halyards that people affix directly to their homes) flying black ribbons hung from the top grommets.
And the best one of all...an actual mourning wreath -- made of (I think) black paper flowers, with a red, white and blue ribbon across it. This one was on a private home. Haven't seen a real mourning wreath in many, many years.
I was surprised and happy to see that someone had been paying attention.
Regards,
Rest in peace President Reagan.
I am praising you for what you did and I hate to sound like a prick but I would have to say no. It's not the subject matter of my ping list and some people on it requested that I keep it a low to medium volume ping list, So I can't ping all articles like this.
You will get hits, You are in the News/Activism section which moves slowly so you will be on the sidebar for a week or two
Great Job!
My flag is on one of those short poles you attach to your house, so I can't fly it half-staff. So I put a bunch of black ribbon on top of the pole, let them trail down. It's something. I wish we could think of something we could all do at home to show our grief.
I loved Ronald Reagan. I can't stop crying. We're living history, and it hurts.
Hi Victoria, thanks for the flag animation. What a nice tribute. When I was a little kid, I always thought the flag looked like it was so sad and crying when it was a half staff. It's a memory I still carry.
The cash registers display the correct change.
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