They claim the US Flag Code states, "the U.S. Flag Code says the flag should only be lowered to half-staff upon direction from the president, governor, or on Memorial Day or to honor a government figure."
Actually, what it states is,
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. On Memorial Day the flag should be displayed at half-staff until noon only, then raised to the top of the staff. By order of the President, the flag shall be flown at half-staff upon the death of principal figures of the United States Government and the Governor of a State, territory, or possession, as a mark of respect to their memory. In the event of the death of other officials or foreign dignitaries, the flag is to be displayed at half-staff according to Presidential instructions or orders, or in accordance with recognized customs or practices not inconsistent with law. In the event of the death of a present or former official of the government of any State, territory, or possession of the United States, the Governor of that State, territory, or possession may proclaim that the National flag shall be flown at half-staff. The flag shall be flown at half-staff thirty days from the death of the President or a former President; ten days from the day of death of the Vice President, the Chief Justice or a retired Chief Justice of the United States, or the Speaker of the House of Representatives; from the day of death until interment of an Associate Justice of the Supreme Court, a Secretary of an executive or military department, a former Vice President, or the Governor of a State, territory, or possession; and on the day of death and the following day for a Member of Congress.
Now, reading through all that, I miss where it says a private organization cannot honor one of it's own. So the Fox Valley Vietnam Veterans Association should perhaps read the rules again. After all, some of the other rules are certainly more commonly and more prominently violated, and the Fox Valley Vietnam Veterans Association has had little to say about those violations.
For example, "the flag may be displayed twenty-four hours a day if properly illuminated during the hours of darkness." Yeah, right. I can just see the FVVVA out there stringing up yard lights all over Green Bay.
"The flag should not be displayed on days when the weather is inclement, except when an all weather flag is displayed." I don't see too many FVVVA members (or anyone else) manning the flag pole during thunderstorms.
Here's some goodies:
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.That just ruins my 4th of July. Guess I'll get rid of my patriotic coasters, too.
And my favorite:
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.Of course, that doesn't stop the American Legion baseball teams:
The National Americanism Commission has made the interpretation that it is permissible to place a Flag Patch onto the team's uniform.Major League Baseball also added flag patches as recently as July 4, 2004.
Strangely, our friends at the flag police were quiet on all these occasions. rather than examine their hearts, lets instead look into the heart of the Packer ownership. Did they intentionally disrespect the flag? No. Did they intentionally offend this group of veterans? No.
So tell me, in a time and place when there is far more done in this country on a daily basis to intentionally disrepect veterans, to dishonor the flag, indeed to dishonor America, why this veterans group decided to take a stand over whether the Green Bay Packers should honor the player who brought the franchise back to respectability and helped erase the moral taint of the Forrest Gregg era.
When the Fox Valley Vietnam Veterans Association stands up for the Pledge of Allegiance in its defence as well as its recitation, I might take them seriously.
By the way, when President Reagan died, I didn't wait for the command from the governor to lower my flag. Somehow, waiting for a command from the state just sounds un-American to me.
