I have one flag, and I'm too afraid to fly it. One, it's a family heirloom, and two, is it appropriate to fly a 48-star flag? And then the Army security people here tell me not to fly it in the name of safety from terrorists (anyone who's been overseas military knows the drill).
But then on the afternoon of September 11th (time difference), there was my German neighbor, putting a big American flag out front of the house to show his support.
Under the US Code, any flag that was at one time the official flag of the US, can be flown today as the flag of the US. You can even fly a replica of the Star-Spangled Banner itself, with its 15 stars and 15 stripes. (It is the only US flag to have more than 13 stripes.)
I particularly encourage people to fly the Star-Spangled Banner because I grew up in Baltimore, and know well the history of the land and sea battle there in September, 1814, on which the fate of the nation hinged. Seeing that great battle flag still flying after 24 hours of bombardment by the British let Francis Scott Key know that our nation had survived, and caused him to write our national anthem.
The larger flag manufacturers still make (normal-sized) copies of the Star-Spangled Banner.
Congressman Billybob
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