Women's Soccer Team T-shirt Slogan vs. Our Nations Flag

XIII / X / MMXII | pansgold

[pansgold]

I write this because of something I just saw on Fox News as they showed a clip from NBC’s coverage of the Olympics.

The video clip started out saying some Americans were complaining about our athletes celebrating their gold medal wins and the Nike T-shirt they wore bearing the phrase “GREATNESS HAS BEEN FOUND”.

What I found difficult to watch was watching two of the women’s soccer team bend down and pick up two American Flags that laid on the ground and wrapped themselves in them.

It was not the action I felt uncomfortable with, it was the disrespect shown for two American Flags that were intentionally laid in the ground.

Let me share a true story of an event that happened to me.

When I was a young child of perhaps 7 or 8 years of age, I was given the task to raise and lower our flag at dawn and dusk on our flag pole alongside our country general store. This task was assigned by my late father who was a United States Marine from the 1st. Division 1st. Regiment 3d Marine Amphibious Brigade and his outfit saw duty in Northern China, Guadalcanal, Bougainville, Tarawa, New Britain, Kwajalein, Eniwetok, Saipan, Guam, Tinian, Peleliu, Iwo Jima and Okinawa.

This particular day I carelessly dropped our flag onto the ground. Not knowing what I had just done, I raised the flag as usual. Dad later asked me if I had raise our flag and I said yes and then mentioned I had dropped it. Dad paused and I will never forget his words. “Did the flag touch the ground?” I told him yes and he said the flag was now soiled and must be burned.

We then went outside and dad told me to take the flag down. I argued that we shouldn’t destroy our only flag because I dropped it because nobody would ever know. All dad said was “I will”.

We then burned that flag in the fire barrel.

Americans have sure come along way. Flags flown at night without lighting, upside down or the star field not displayed in the upper left-hand corner. Now too lazy to stand, cover their hearts during our National Anthem or even to stop talking.

God help America when a T-shirt slogan becomes more of a news item than our national symbol of WORLD FREEDOM being disrespected at the Olympics. On March 5, 1968 I enlisted in the Marines. I still get upset when I see OUR FLAG on the ground.

[pansgold]

* No, you can’t throw those little flags away. The only “respectable” way to dispose of a worn or soiled flag is to give it a ceremonial and dignified retirement, preferably by burning it. Ironically, the American Legion and Boy Scouts burn thousands of flags every year in respectful retirement ceremonies. The only difference between their actions, and the actions of a long-haired hippie protestor are the thoughts in the minds of the two. Do you want to live in a country that arrests people for “anti-American thoughts?” I sure don’t.

GOOGLE IT.

[dfwgator]

The United States Congress said when a flag “touches” the ground it is “soiled” and should be destroyed. One method they listed to destroy the flag was burning. They also listed the methods to display the flag.

The Boy Scouts will retire the flags properly during their campouts.

[treetopsandroofs]

I’m not sure you meant to reply to me.

I’m on your side and even supplied the source.

[treetopsandroofs]

Although it doesn’t specifically proscribe burning if the flag touches the ground (see link in #17), I supported the father’s decision to do so.

[pansgold]

I knew. I followed your link and it took me to the USC which I spoke about. It’s been decades since that topic has even come up for me and I remember seeing it many years ago.

I was right it looks like it was all repealed around the time Bill Clinton ordered millions of flags for Army uniforms and the star fields were in the upper right hand corner. Scrambling for a reason, the army said the flag was to be on the right sleave and looked like it would “Moving forward” from the right side.

Funny how GI’s in WWII had American Flags on their right sleaved and the star field was in the upper left corner. I know, they were retreating while facing foreward?

Funny didn’t the American’s win WWII?

[pansgold]

It really was a typo. I have glaucoma from diabetes and now black spots from macular degeneration. My dad was legally blind from the latter by age 62 and that’s genetic and I’m nearing 64 now and slowley going bilnd.

I asked the admin to correct it for me because I don’t know how to do it myself.

Thanks.

[stormer]

Bush II, actually. From http://www.usflag.org/flagpatch.html:

Army Regulation 670-1, “Wear and Appearance of Army Uniforms and Insignia,” updated most recently September 5, 2003, addresses explicitly the proper and lawful placement of the U.S. flag patch on the Army uniform.

The regulation states that when authorized for application to the proper uniform the American flag patch is to be worn, right or left shoulder, so that “the star field faces forward, or to the flag’s own right. When worn in this manner, the flag is facing to the observer’s right, and gives the effect of the flag flying in the breeze as the wearer moves forward. The appropriate replica for the right shoulder sleeve is identified as the ‘reverse side flag’.”

[RedMDer]

[KC Burke]

LOL

I know it was an honest mistake. I am about your age and trying to post often from an iPhone is the source of a lot of “oh, no”s on my part.

We post our threads and despite their importance some little item can make the forum take them elsewhere.

My Dad did certain things for the full dramatic effect. I remember once when I was about 14 and the local police chief was making an inquiry about some dynamite found nearby, he came up to my room and said, “Son, I think you’re going to jail.”. LOL, that was almost the case.

[AnalogReigns]

That is a very touching story about serious patriotism...and a lesson to you a young boy, however, I have to say I believe such traditions as burning a flag if it accidently touches the ground verges on superstition.

The U.S. Flag Code (which I just looked up and read) makes no penalty or requirement of burning a flag which accidently touches the ground (a very good thing, as I’m sure in battle, MANY a flag has touched the ground, only to be picked up again...), even though of course, the flag is required NEVER to touch the ground or whatever is below it.

It does say:

“Whoever knowingly mutilates, defaces, physically defiles, burns, maintains on the floor or ground, or tramples upon any flag of the United States shall be fined under this title or imprisoned for not more than one year, or both.” (USCode 18, I, 33, Sec. 700 a1)

An accidental touching on the ground does not “maintains on the floor or ground.”

I recall in boy scouts discussing that if a flag accidently brushed the ground...kissing it was an alternative to burning it (but again, that sounds like superstition to me too).

I am however quite disgusted at celebrity attempts to wear the flag. You wouldn’t do that with a priests robes...so why is a flag treated so flippantly?