June 14 is Flag Day, celebrating the anniversary of the adoption of our flag by the Second Continental Congress on June 14, 1777. We also observe the founding of the United States Army on June 14, 1775.
Our flag is a beacon of Liberty, a symbol of hope for all people who "hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness."
So, what do you see in our flag?
My friend, Medal of Honor recipient and former POW Leo Thorsness (RIP), offered this observation years ago:
"What do you think of when you see a little American flag in front of a grave marker? Let me tell you a story about one little flag.
As a fighter pilot on my 93rd mission over North Vietnam, my F-105 was hit by an air-to-air missile and my Electronic Warfare Officer Harold Johnson and I were forced to eject. After unsuccessful rescue attempts, we were captured by enemy forces and imprisoned in the infamous “Hanoi Hilton” for the next six years.
"One day in our sixth year of imprisonment, a young Navy pilot named Mike Christian found a piece of cloth in a gutter. After we collected some other small rags, he worked secretly at night to piece them together into a flag. He made red from ground-up roof tiles and blue from tiny amounts of ink, then used rice glue to paste the colors onto the rags. Using thread from his blanket and a homemade bamboo needle, he sewed the pieces together, adding white fragments for stars.
"One morning he whispered from the back of our cell, 'Hey gang, look here,' and proudly held up that tattered American flag, waving it as if in a breeze. We all snapped to attention and saluted — with tears in our eyes.
"A week later, the guards were searching our cells and found Mike’s flag and tore it to pieces. That night they pulled him out of the cell and, for his simple gesture of patriotism, they tortured him. At daylight they pushed what was left of Mike back through the cell door.
"Despite the torture, the next day Mike gathered the shredded remains of that little flag and pieced it back together.
"Today, whenever I see our flag, I think of Mike and the morning he first waved that tattered emblem of our great nation. It was then, thousands of miles from home, imprisoned by a brutal enemy, that he courageously demonstrated the Liberty it represents, and that is what I see in every American flag."
Perhaps Leo's perspective on our flag will inform your own.
I invite you to learn more about proper flag etiquette and protocol at https://patriotpost.us/flag.
As our Army service personnel and their fellow service branch members continue to lead the way defending Liberty, join us in prayer for all of our military Patriots standing in harm's way, and their families.
Mark Caldwell
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Mr. Mark Caldwell’s letter is superb.
I’m very glad he included the link for flag etiquette and protocol. Every American and every reader of Mr. Coldwell’s letter should go to that website and read the information thoroughly.
After reading the letter, and as an Eagle Scout, I harkened back to those scouting days long, long ago. While I am not sure of what Scouting may teach today, I definitely remember the etiquette and protocol I was taught.
Any group should be proud to display the flag with the required etiquette and protocol, but not to the exclusion of all other citizens. It is disgusting to me that MAGAs, hate groups, so-called patriotic militias, and Christian nationalists have misappropriated the flag to “symbolize” or imply that they are “endorsed” by the flag.
Yes, it may be fine line, but unless the flag is displayed respectfully, those groups are wrong. They often violate Section 176 (d), (g), and (i). Those groups are the most egregious in disrespect. Particularly when Trump choses to embrace and wrap himself in it, use it on his website or in his advertising or grifting.
I also understand they are not the only groups that also misappropriate the flag, so don’t even reply to that effect.
If you see any disrespect of the flag, point that out courteously and respectfully to the person, and in a non-partisan manner.
I’ve copied U. S. Code Title 36, Chapter 10—Patriotic Customs, Section 176 below. Please read paragraphs (d), (g) and (i) closely and think about the groups I’ve mentioned. And especially Trump.
§176. Respect for flag
No disrespect should be shown to the flag of the United States of America; the flag should not be dipped to any person or thing. Regimental colors, State flags, and organization or institutional flags are to be dipped as a mark of honor.
(a) 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.
(b) The flag should never touch anything beneath it, such as the ground, the floor, water, or merchandise.
(c) The flag should never be carried flat or horizontally, but always aloft and free.
(d) 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. Bunting of blue, white, and red, always arranged with the blue above, the white in the middle, and the red below, should be used for covering a speaker's desk, draping the front of the platform, and for decoration in general.
(e) The flag should never be fastened, displayed, used, or stored in such a manner as to permit it to be easily torn, soiled, or damaged in any way.
(f) The flag should never be used as a covering for a ceiling.
(g) 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.
(h) The flag should never be used as a receptacle for receiving, holding, carrying, or delivering anything.
(i) 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. Advertising signs should not be fastened to a staff or halyard from which the flag is flown.
(j) 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 represents a living country and is itself considered a living thing. Therefore, the lapel flag pin being a replica, should be worn on the left lapel near the heart.
(k) 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.
Again, thank you Mr. Caldwell.
Joe Warren