Will B.

Flag Day has come and gone – it had me thinking about what our flag, the American flag, means to us and to others. The U.S. flag for us means home, liberty and so much more. For others until recently it meant that no matter where evil was rearing its ugly head, soon American soldiers would show up and chop its head off like a poisonous snake.

Many countries around the globe still count on the U.S. to step in wherever freedom is threatened and governments oppress their people. The U.S. has received a few black eyes recently but hopefully with the presidential election soon approaching there is a chance to once again place a leader who will make America strong and feared again. Betsy Ross is widely known as the main creator of the U.S. Flag (although many had input into its conception). The stars represent the states of the U.S., currently at 50, and the stripes represent the 13 original colonies. Some version of the Stars and Stripes has been flying over our nation since June 14, 1777 when the Continental Congress adopted it as the official U.S. flag. Flag day was established in 1949 on June 14. In 1818, Congress made the decision to add a new star for each new state admitted to the union.

On September 13-14, 1814, Francis Scott Key wrote the “Star-Spangled Banner” as he saw the flag flying over Ft. McHenry in Baltimore Harbor after a British bombardment. The Pledge of Allegiance makes its first appearance in the youth magazine, The Youth’s Companion, which was written by Francis Bellamy in 1892.

Procedures and practices for the U.S. Flag: Display the flag from sunrise to sunset on buildings or flagstaffs and at night, only if properly lighted.

The flag should be raised and lowered by hand and never raised furled.

Always hoist the flag briskly and lower it ceremoniously.

The flag may be displayed on any day, but especially on national holidays.

On Memorial Day, display the flag at half-mast until noon only; then hoist it to the top of the staff.

When carried, the flag should be held aloft, never flat or horizontal.

Salute a flag when it passes by in a parade, during the Pledge of Allegiance or National Anthem and in a ceremony raising or lowering it.

The flag should never be allowed to touch the ground or floor, nor brush against any objects, nor be used as drapery of any sort.

The flag should never be displayed with the union down except as a signal of distress in instances of extreme danger.

When a flag is no longer in a condition to be displayed, it should be destroyed in a dignified way, preferably by burning.

This is Will B. saying, respect the U.S. flag because it was paid for by the blood of our patriots.