Flying a foreign flag over the American flag. How would you react?

SGT(P) Private RallyPoint Member — Sun, 06 Apr 2014 15:19:33 -0400

<div>Though serving I don't believe i'm a true patriot. But I will defend the flag, this country and allies, and more importantly basic moral fundamentals. I believe this veteran is wrong even before the law steps in. To me he disrespected us Veterans and the country as a whole by not showing the Mexican flag the same respect as ours. Of course also damaging private property. What do you guys think??</div>https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f3HVaC_czx4<div class="pta-link-card"><div class="pta-link-card-picture"><img src="https://i1.ytimg.com/vi/f3HVaC_czx4/hqdefault.jpg"></div><div class="pta-link-card-content"><div class="pta-link-card-title"><a target="_blank" href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f3HVaC_czx4">US Veteran Cuts Down Mexican and American Flags with knife in front of TV Crew</a></div><div class="pta-link-card-description">US Veteran Jim Brossard responded to a Mexican business disrespecting the American flag by cutting the flags down and taking the American flag home with him....</div></div><div style="clear:both"></div><div class="pta-box-hide"><i class="icon-remove"></i></div></div>

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 6 at 2014 9:38 PM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Sun, 06 Apr 2014 21:38:51 -0400

I think the veteran had the right intent, but his actions were a little much. He could have simply lowered the flags, then raised them in the correct order.

In all honesty, I would be pretty upset if I saw this too. I don't think the veteran should have cut them down, thrown the Mexican flag on the ground, and walked off with the American flag. I know I don't know the whole story, just what was presented by the news, but the veteran could have simply told the establishment owner that what he was doing was illegal and help him fix it, not get confrontational about it.

Response by CSM Michael J. Uhlig made Apr 6 at 2014 10:01 PM

CSM Michael J. Uhlig — Sun, 06 Apr 2014 22:01:54 -0400

<p>I think Jim Brosser is a proud United States of America Army veteran that has personally invested a lot of himself serving our country.  If you don't stand for something, you are bound to fall for anything.  </p><p><br></p><p>I say good on ya Jim, Hooah!</p>

Response by PO1 William "Chip" Nagel made Apr 6 at 2014 10:34 PM

PO1 William "Chip" Nagel — Sun, 06 Apr 2014 22:34:09 -0400

Perspective is always a good thing. I served as a Guest of the British Government. Naval Communications Unit London. Also Naval Computer and Telecommunications Station, Diego Garcia, British Indian Ocean Territory. Of course who's flag do you think flew higher.

Response by Cpl Chris Rice made Oct 6 at 2014 1:44 PM

Cpl Chris Rice — Mon, 06 Oct 2014 13:44:33 -0400

Disrespecting another nation is not respecting our nation. I am from Reno, and this is the ridiculous shit that happens there all the time. Yet the Irish pubs in Reno screw this up too you don't see this guy out there cutting down there flags. This guy spent his entire morning talking shit on local talk radio, and never went and told the owners of the establishment their mistake. He got enough publicity to get local news to watch, and the bar had to close down because they were receiving death threats after the incident in which they were the victims of a vandal.

Response by TSgt Tim (lj) Littlejohn made Apr 13 at 2015 11:28 AM

TSgt Tim (lj) Littlejohn — Mon, 13 Apr 2015 11:28:51 -0400

Only in Mexico!!

Response by SGT Dylan Epp made Apr 13 at 2015 11:45 AM

SGT Dylan Epp — Mon, 13 Apr 2015 11:45:23 -0400

This is America last I checked. No flag should ever be flown above Old Glory. However I would've just lowered them and raised them back up in the correct order.

Response by SFC Michael Hasbun made Apr 13 at 2015 11:49 AM

SFC Michael Hasbun — Mon, 13 Apr 2015 11:49:00 -0400

We respect and serve our nation by being good citizens. We pay our taxes, educate ourselves, involve ourselves in politics, stay current on events, work to improve our neighborhoods, contribute to our communities, volunteer our time, help the less fortunate... THAT is respecting our country..

Flags and shirts and speeches are nice, but are just lip service without the actions that actually better the nation.

Response by SA Harold Hansmann made Apr 13 at 2015 11:52 AM

SA Harold Hansmann — Mon, 13 Apr 2015 11:52:23 -0400

This is America!!! LOVE IT OR LEAVE IT!!!!

Response by PO3 Steven Sherrill made Apr 13 at 2015 1:41 PM

PO3 Steven Sherrill — Mon, 13 Apr 2015 13:41:08 -0400

First off, he didn't plan it out very well balling up the flag like he did. If he wants to talk about respecting the flag, then he needs to show equal respect. Secondly, this is why you don't fly two national ensigns on the same flag pole. Third, two wrongs do not make a right. Destroying a person's private property to make a point makes you just as wrong. Fourth, it is illegal to fly another flag over the U.S. Flag, if he wanted to make the point he could have just filed a police report. Fifth, he could have actually talked to the business owner, and given him a chance to make it right. So much wrong in one incident.

Response by PO1 John Miller made Jul 4 at 2015 8:55 PM

PO1 John Miller — Sat, 04 Jul 2015 20:55:42 -0400

Fix it properly, not what this Marine did.

Response by PO1 Glenn Boucher made Jul 7 at 2015 9:24 PM

PO1 Glenn Boucher — Tue, 07 Jul 2015 21:24:30 -0400

That veteran is completely wrong, and in my opinion he is a media whore looking for and receiving his 15 minutes of fame.
He disrespected the American flag by balling it up, he is not in a combat situation where I could understand if he was being shot at and had no choice but to quickly cut the flag down and beat feet out of there.
Would it have been so hard for him to just go in and talk to the owner of the business and let him know, or heck even show him a copy of the Flag code and etiquette?
Nothing this jerk off did was respectful. And I know I will get some flack for this, but I hope he is a fake vet and not a real one at least then he will have an excuse for being a complete douche.

Response by PFC Tuan Trang made Feb 24 at 2016 9:33 AM

PFC Tuan Trang — Wed, 24 Feb 2016 09:33:11 -0500

I don't see anything wrong with that, unless you fly the american flag upside down or disrespect it.

Response by LTC Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 1 at 2016 1:36 PM

LTC Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 01 Mar 2016 13:36:29 -0500

A foreign flag is to be flown at the same level as the United States flag. An American-Mexican, for example, may proudly fly his ancestral or former nation's flag, side by side, with the Stars and Stripes. He may do this to express his ethnicity or favor of a strong economic and political relationship between the United States and Mexico. As a Californian, I would take no offense to it. To fly the Stars and Stripes over another nation's flag is to imply we are at war with that nation. This is certainly not the case between the United States and Mexico, as we are economic partners. It is never acceptable to fly a foreign flag over the Stars and Stripes.

Response by 2LT Private RallyPoint Member made Jul 23 at 2018 4:15 PM

2LT Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 23 Jul 2018 16:15:05 -0400

If you are flying flags from several different countries during peacetime, all country flags must be the same size and flown at the same height.