TORN WEATHERED FLAGS! Is there a policy for businesses who choose to fly our nations colors to maintain it? Does it bother you seeing it?

Yes this brothers me greatly, the other thing that bothers me greatly is seeing our national ensign flying in hours of darkness without being lit up according to protocol.

I think what bothers me most is that the U.S. Flag Code is a guideline not a regulation.

Yes it does bother and hurt me to see. Both my wife and I are know to go into a business displaying an serviceable flag and tell management what is wrong. The VFW and other organizations will come and dispose of the worn flag properly and with respect for no charge.

I tear 'em down...and take them to the AmVets club who in turn brings them to a crematorium...Its EASIER to ask forgiveness than permission.

I go in and ask if they want me to take it away for them. Your local Boy Scouts will destroy the flag properly.

If you take the code as written then none of the following photos depicting the flag should be allowed as well. This includes any business such as a dealership with their US flag in the background in their commercial or ad. Oh and btw, the flag being carried across the football field horizontally during NFL games, is a no-no as well. The United States Flag Code establishes advisory rules for display and care of the flag of the United States. It is Chapter 1 of Title 4 of the United States Code (4 U.S.C. § 1 et seq). This is a U.S. federal law, but there is no penalty for failure to comply with it and the U.S. Supreme Court has ruled that punitive enforcement would conflict with the First Amendment right to freedom of speech. What we hope is that common sense prevails when confronted with a business or residential home having a tattered flag or other flag code violation. Sometimes its just a matter of educating someone.

There have been several cases where I have purchased and donated a new flag since the owner did not care enough to change it out. I have also corrected a few places for having them displayed incorrectly. Most people are greatful and just did not realize it was so damaged.

I am going to talk to the VFW about this on Tuesday at my post. With Flag day coming up, that is usually the day for the retirement of flags. I know that some VFW posts have what would look like a post office box in front to deposit flags for proper disposal. This is something that a lot of people do not know. They can take their flags to the VFW or the American Legion, and they will properly take care of these flags. The Boy Scouts too, can collect flags and will get the the VFW to do the same.

There is a lot of U.S. flags flying incorrectly: weathered, all-night not lighted, in foul weather, half-mast for the wrong reason or amount of time, hung backwards when displayed against a wall, placed on the wrong side of a podium. It makes you wonder how they handle the flag when and if they take it down and put it up.

It does bother me, but then this old poem comes to mind:

Stephen R. Henninger:

THE OLD TATTERED FLAG

The flag was once new and flying proudly
The colors were bright and always rightly
The union was bluer than the blue sky above
And the 50 stars were shining as bright as a dove
The red and white stripes were laid out horizontal
Their design and number were not coincidental
Seven red and six white for a total of thirteen
To recognizes the original colonies not to go unseen
The battles it endured were many, some short, some long
But the results ended the same for the right and the wrong
The dead and the wounded, too many to count
Came faster and faster, no chance for a recount
The Flag colors faded and tattered on the ends
As it flew through the fight it was our best friend
It gave us courage and meaning to see her fly
In light of all the soldiers lying around us that died
The Flag has a meaning to everyone who sees her
Some are different than others but we all can concur
That regardless of how worn and tattered she is
She will always fly as she originally did
The flag was once new and flying proudly

Then there is this one.

I walked through a county courthouse square
On a park bench an old man was sitting there
I said, "Your old courthouse is kinda run down"

He said, "No, it'll do for our little town"
I said, "Your old flagpole has leaned a little bit
And that's a Ragged Old Flag you got hanging on it"

He said, "Have a seat," and I sat down
"Is this the first time you've been to our little town?"
I said, "I think it is" He said, "I don't like to brag
But we're kinda proud of that Ragged Old Flag."

You see, we got a little hole in that flag there when
Washington took it across the Delaware
And it got powder-burned the night Francis Scott Key
Sat watching it, writing 'Say Can You See'

And it got a bad rip in New Orleans
With Packingham and Jackson tuggin' at its seams
And it almost fell at the Alamo
Beside the Texas flag, but she waved on though

She got cut with a sword at Chancellorsville
And she got cut again at Shiloh Hill
There was Robert E. Lee, Beauregard, and Bragg
And the south wind blew hard on that Ragged Old Flag

On Flanders Field in World War I
She got a big hole from a Bertha gun
She turned blood red in World War II
She hung limp and low by the time it was through

She was in Korea and Vietnam
She went where she was sent by her Uncle Sam
She waved from our ships upon the briny foam
And now they've about quit waving her back here at home

In her own good land here she's been abused
She's been burned, dishonored, denied, and refused
And the government for which she stands
Is scandalized throughout the land

And she's getting threadbare and she's wearing thin
But she's in good shape for the shape she's in
'Cause she's been through the fire before
And I believe she can take a whole lot more

So we raise her up every morning, we take her down every night
We don't let her touch the ground and we fold her up right
On second thought, I do like to brag
'Cause I'm mighty proud of the Ragged Old Flag

Song writers
Johnny Cash