June 14th Flag Day

Flag Day is celebrated in the United States on June 14. That day in 1777 the Second
Continental Congress adopted the U.S. Flag.

In 1916 President Woodrow Wilson issued a proclamation designating June 14 as Flag Day, and an act of Congress in August 1949 established National Flag Day.

It is a day to celebrate and honor the American Flag. Many cities hold parades, with one
of the largest being in Troy, New York, which bases it parade on one of the longest running parades in Quincy, Massachusetts.

The proper way to display the flag
There is a right way and a wrong way to display the flag. The American flag should be held in the highest of regards. It represents our nation and the many people who gave their lives for our country and our flag. Here are the basics on displaying the American flag:

* The flag is normally flown from sunrise to sunset.
* In the morning, raise the flag briskly. At sunset, lower it slowly. Always, raise and lower it ceremoniously.
* The flag should not be flown at night without a light on it.
* The flag should not be flown in the rain or inclement weather.
* After a tragedy or death, the flag is flown at half staff for 30 days. It's called "half staff" on land ,and "half mast" on a ship.
* When flown vertically on a pole, the stars and blue field , or "union", is at the top and at the end of the pole (away from your house).
* The American flag is always flown at the top of the pole. Your state flag and other flags fly below it.
* The union is always on top. When displayed in print, the stars and blue field are always on the left.
* Never let your flag touch the ground, never...period.
* Fold your flag when storing. Don't just stuff it in a drawer or box.
* When your flag is old and has seen better days, it is time to retire it. Old flags should be burned or buried. Please do not throw it in the trash.

The Boy Scouts, VFW, American Legion and other Veteran Service Organizations ceremonies
to properly retire old and tattered flags. If yours is worn and faded please contact
one of these groups to dispose of your flag.

Proper respect of the flag should be taught to all children as soon as they are old
enough to understand.

The Flag Code is rather lengthy, and has a lot of things that are not always followed
correctly.

Even those around our Presidents do not get them right. January 19, 2009
to celebrate his inauguration flags were imprinted with the name and likeness of the
new President. President Bush and his wife Laura stood on a carpet of the American Flag
at "ground zero" on Sept 11, 2006.

There are even "left" flags and "right" flags to be worn on uniforms. The union must
always be to the front, as though the flag were passing by. Therefore the "right"
flag may appear backwards, but it is the correct way to be worn.

So treat the Flag with respect and honor at all times. Fly your flag every day. The Flag
represents a living country and is itself considered a living thing.

For more information http://www.ushistory.org/betsy/flagetiq.html

Jerald Terwilliger
National Chairman
American Cold War Veterans
"We Remember"

"And so the greatest of American triumphs... became a peculiarly joyless victory. We had won the Cold War, but there would be no parades."-- Robert M. Gates, 1996