Flag Day

Today, June 14th, is Flag Day in the United States. It commemerates the adoption of the flag of the United States which happened on this day in 1777. In 1916, President Woodrow Wilson issued a proclamation that officially established June 14 as Flag Day; in August 1949, National Flag Day was established by an Act of Congress. For those of you considering flying a flag today, or any day, I offer a few Federal rules and customs pertaining to the display and use of the flag of the United States of America.

* The flag should be flown from sunrise to sunset on a stationary flagpost in the open. The flag may be displayed twenty-four hours a day if it is properly illuminated after dark.

* The flag should not be displayed on days when the weather is inclement, except when an all-weather flag is displayed.

* The flag should not be displayed on a float in a parade except from a staff.

* The flag should not be draped over the hood, top, sides, or back of a vehicle or of a railroad train or a boat. When the flag is displayed on a motorcar, the staff shall be fixed firmly to the chassis or clamped to the right fender.

* When multiple flags are flown from adjacent staffs, the flag of the United States should be hoisted first and lowered last. No such flag or pennant may be placed above the flag of the United States or to the United States flag's right.

* When displayed either horizontally or vertically against a wall, the union should be uppermost and to the flag's own right, that is, to the observer's left.

* The flag, when flown at half-staff, should be first hoisted to the peak for an instant and then lowered to the half-staff position. The flag should be again raised to the peak before it is lowered for the day.

* When the flag is used to cover a casket, it should be so placed that the union is at the head and over the left shoulder. The flag should not be lowered into the grave or allowed to touch the ground.

* The flag should never be displayed with the union down, except as a signal of dire distress in instances of extreme danger to life or property.

* The flag should never be used as wearing apparel, bedding, or drapery. It should never be festooned, drawn back, nor up, in folds, but always allowed to fall free.

* The flag should never have placed upon it, nor on any part of it, nor attached to it any mark, insignia, letter, word, figure, design, picture, or drawing of any nature.

* The flag should never be used for advertising purposes in any manner whatsoever. It should not be embroidered on such articles as cushions or handkerchiefs and the like, printed or otherwise impressed on paper napkins or boxes or anything that is designed for temporary use and discard.

* No part of the flag should ever be used as a costume or athletic uniform. However, a flag patch may be affixed to the uniform of military personnel, firemen, policemen, and members of patriotic organizations.

* The flag, when it is in such condition that it is no longer a fitting emblem for display, should be destroyed in a dignified way, preferably by burning.

Lastly, and this is my own little rule, to those of you self righteous bastards who use the United States flag as way to demonstrate your "patriotism" and to demonize me for not subscribing to your wing-nut agenda, screw you! It's my flag too. (You know who you are.)