Celebrate our Flag!

Today, June 14th, is National Flag Day. The Town Clerk’s Office continues to collect old, worn flags year-round.  Flags submitted to my office will be presented to the William E. De Bevoise Jr. American Legion Post 1682 for proper retirement.  Worn flags may also be deposited in a drop box located outside of the Legion Hall in New City 24 hours a day. The flags will be retired at a ceremony held at the Post in New City on Flag Day.

The origin of Flag Day in the United States started with a young schoolteacher named Bernard J. Cigrand in 1885. After many years of effort on the part of Mr. Cigrand to bring about a national day of recognition for our flag, President Wilson issued a proclamation in 1916 announcing a national observance of Flag Day on June 14th. The day was finally memorialized as National Flag Day by an act of Congress and signed into law by President Truman in 1949.

Please take a moment today to reflect on the meaning of our flag and the immeasurable sacrifice so many have made to protect us all and keep us safe and free. The sacrifices are not just limited to those brave men and women who serve us so honorably. Their families, friends and relatives also give so much every day their loved ones are in harm’s way.

I noticed this article about proper flag etiquette in the American Legion Auxiliary magazine the other day. The title of the article was “Americanism Requires Awareness Of Flag Etiquette.” I couldn’t agree more. Here are some important points to remember:

• The Flag Code states that it is the universal custom to display the flag only from sunrise to sunset on buildings and on stationary flag staffs in the open. However, when a patriotic effect is desired, the flag may be displayed 24 hours a day if properly illuminated during hours of darkness.
• The proper way to display the flag on an automobile is to fly it in an upright position from a staff firmly clamped to the chassis or clamped to the right front fender.
• When the flag is not flown from a staff, it should be displayed vertically, whether indoors or out, and suspended so that its folds fall free as though the flag were on a staff.
• The Code says that, “When a flag has served its useful purpose, it should be destroyed, preferably by burning.”
• There are no provisions of the Flag Code which prohibit washing or dry-cleaning. The decision to wash or dry-clean would be dependent on the material.
• The flag should never be used as wearing apparel, bedding or drapery. It is permissible to wear an item of clothing that looks like the United States flag. According to The American Legion, “Unless an article of clothing is made from an actual United States flag, there is NO breach of flag etiquette whatsoever. People are simply expressing their patriotism and love of country by wearing an article of clothing that happens to be red, white and blue with stars and stripes. There is nothing illegal about wearing or use of these items.”