[HighWheeler]

So I’m asking some of you fellow Freepers to notice who is not flying the flag at half staff this week and call them. Once an area hits a critical mass, all the others should notice and follow suit.

This is one of those feel-good, FReepin’ moments.

[gilliam]

Good Work!

We need to educate people. They simply don't know.

Some very simple flag rules:
http://www.scouting.org/nav/enter.jsp?c=xds&terms=flag

[HighWheeler]

ping

[snopercod]

Oh God, this is choice. My wife and I have been doing the same thing for two days in Brevard, NC.

Yesterday, she phoned McDonald's and chewed out the ignorant little managerette. Then she faxed a letter-to-editor of the local paper listing the other offenders around town. (should be in tomorrow's paper)

Today I went into Arby's and asked the little twerp manager why his flag was still at full mast. "I've been on vacation", was his lame excuse. Obviously, he didn't have a clue why the flag should have been lowered - I had to explain it to him. (But then that explains why he was working at a fast-food restaurant.)

Then I stopped at Centura Bank and got the same lame excuse when I told them that they were the only business in town with their flag flying at full staff. "Our manager has been on vacation".

How did these kids reach adulthood, anyway?

[hometoroost]

It's hard to expect more given that we don't teach what used to be called "civics." The left is embarassed at being American and the last thing they want is to have schools communicate is the heritage of freedom; the etiquette of honoring our flag, our forefathers, and our great leaders; and the responsibility that goes with the freedoms we enjoy.

All I can say is it's a great day for God because it's morning in heaven. If the Big Guy ever needed help running the place he has it now.

[cmsgop]

I will join you in this.

[Grammy]

I was in our little town this afternoon and noticed that a bank still had the flag at full staff. I stopped and politely asked them if this was their flag and why it was not at half staff. They scurried right out to fix it.
I was glad I stopped.

[MiniCooperChick]

I did that at a McDonald's just today!

I was driving by and had no plans to go there, but I noticed the flag and drove through to tell them to lower it. As I drove away, someone was heading to the flagpole!

[Fiddlstix]

BTTT

[onyx]

Excellent. You made a difference!
Thanks you for the grand idea.

[HighWheeler]

ping

[kittymyrib]

By the way, Pres. Bush has designated that flags stay at half-staff for one month, not just this week. While watching the touching scene of Californians of all types coming to pay their respects to the president, I was sad to see some men who did not remove their hats. I guess we just don't know common courtesy. However, I was heartened to see how many, many young people were there, particularly young men. That was lovely and gives one hope for the future.

[ml/nj]

I didn't notice a single flag at full staff here in NJ on the 20 or so non-interstate miles I drove today. I was looking too. I passed dozens of flags, including those at two McDonald's restaurants, and all were being displayed properly, I thought.

ML/NJ

[FreedomCalls]

Announcing the Death of Ronald Reagan

By the President of the United States of America
A Proclamation

TO THE PEOPLE OF THE UNITED STATES:

It is my sad duty to announce officially the death of Ronald Reagan, the fortieth President of the United States, on June 5, 2004.

We are blessed to live in a Nation, and a world, that have been shaped by the will, the leadership, and the vision of Ronald Reagan.

With an unshakable faith in the values of our country and the character of our people, Ronald Reagan renewed America's confidence and restored our Nation. His optimism, strength, and humility epitomized the American spirit. He always told us that for America the best was yet to come.

Ronald Reagan believed that God takes the side of justice and that America has a special calling to oppose tyranny and defend freedom. Through his courage and determination, he enhanced America's security and advanced the spread of peace, liberty, and democracy to millions of people who had lived in darkness and oppression. As America's President, Ronald Reagan helped change the world.

President Reagan has left us, but he has left us stronger and better. We take comfort in the knowledge that he has left us for a better place, the shining city that awaits him.

NOW, THEREFORE, I, GEORGE W. BUSH, President of the United States of America, by the authority vested in me by the Constitution and laws of the United States, in honor and tribute to the memory of Ronald Reagan, and as an expression of public sorrow, do hereby direct that the flag of the United States be displayed at half-staff at the White House and on all buildings, grounds, and Naval vessels of the United States for a period of 30 days from the day of his death. I also direct that for the same length of time, the representatives of the United States in foreign countries shall make similar arrange-ments for the display of the flag at half-staff over their Embassies, Legations, and other facilities abroad, including all military facilities and stations.

I hereby order that suitable honors be rendered by units of the Armed Forces under orders of the Secretary of Defense.

I do further appoint Friday, June 11, 2004, as a National Day of Mourning throughout the United States. I call on the American people to assemble on that day in their respective places of worship, there to pay homage to the memory of President Reagan. I invite the people of the world who share our grief to join us in this solemn observance.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this sixth day of June, in the year of our Lord two thousand four, and of the Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and twenty-eighth.

GEORGE W. BUSH

[Argus]

You will be pleased to know that the flag at the Warner Bros studio in Burbank - Ronald Reagan's home for many years - was at half-staff this morning, without anyone needing to be reminded. Lt. Reagan's name is also on the great bronze plaque commemorating Warners employees in uniform during WWII, located back by the commissary.

[Gator113]

Good job!!

[Glenn]

I am proud to say the company I work for, FedEx, had the flag at half-staff this morning. Thank you, Fred Smith.

[Viking2002]

Mine was at half staff by 5 p.m.

[LibertyThug]

I'm glad you did that, every little bit helps.

You might actually open at least one person's eyes.

[EdJay]

Your zeal is admirable, but actually, I am not sure that there is any obligation for private individuals or businesses to fly the flag at half mast, even after a Presidential proclamation. Personally I am not sure I'd care to fly my American flag at half mast for, say, Clinton, even though he is a former President.

Here's the rule. It seems to apply to "federal buildings, grounds and naval vessels." I imagine it would apply to the state buildings, etc., once there's a State proclamation.

"The flag should fly at half-staff for 30 days at all federal buildings, grounds, and naval vessels throughout the United States and its territories and possessions after the death of the president or a former president. It is to fly 10 days at half-staff after the death of the vice president, the chief justice or a retired chief justice of the United States Supreme Court, or the speaker of the House of Representatives. For an associate justice of the Supreme Court, a member of the Cabinet, a former vice president, the president pro tempore of the Senate, the majority leader of the Senate, the minority leader of the Senate, the majority leader of the House of Representatives, or the minority leader of the House of Representatives the flag is to be displayed at half-staff from the day of death until interment."

http://www1.va.gov/pubaff/celebAm/halfstaf.htm

[TomGuy]

A couple of my screencaps this morning and the funeral procession was on the freeway



Above: Flags suspended between raised ladders on fire trucks.
Below: Home made tribute at an overpass [spelling error is forgiven]