Michael Riddle (Edison) Home of the Brave, Land of the Un-Patriotic Patriot

As a sports enthusiast, I thoroughly enjoy this time of year. Basketball and hockey are winding down, baseball is winding up, and NASCAR is in mid-season form. Yet, for all of the pomp and circumstance that these events have to offer, I have noticed that there seems to be something missing. We, as a nation, have either forgotten, or chosen to have forgotten, how to pay proper homage to those symbols that represent our country and what it stands for; to those symbols whose ideals generations before us have bled and died to protect; to those symbols whose principles our children, this day, will face death and possibly give their lives to defend so that future generations can enjoy and experience them; those symbols that we, as Americans, claim are so near and dear to our hearts: Our Pledge, and our Anthem.

I realize that I grew up in a different time and age, when life was “simpler” and our country was not as influenced by global pressures as we seem to be today (almost the same thing that my parents said of my generation). Today, it is expected that we accept the belief that life is more casual, and many feel that we should not be bound by the formalities of a bygone era, and, therefore, improper salutes, talking, milling around, and an overall air of irreverence to our Pledge and Anthem is perfectly acceptable. Perhaps this cavalier attitude toward our patriotism is one reason why this country’s image has diminished so much in the eyes of the international community. So important is the apparent lack of respect to the Anthem and the Pledge that the United States Congress felt it necessary to address the issue in 2007. For the first time in the history of our country, a national code of ethics (36 USC 301) had to be mandated to address national anthem etiquette. Shame on us!!

There is an actual code of etiquette regarding our patriotism, you ask? Yes there is! And I urge and implore each and every person that reads this to research it, abide by it, and live it. Following are a few excerpts from USFlag.org (http://usflag.org/flagetiquette.html) that outlines just a few basic guidelines in what should be expected from all of us:

Parading and Saluting the Flag

When carried in a procession, the flag should be to the right of the marchers. When other flags are carried, the flag of the United States may be centered in front of the others or carried to their right. When the flag passes in a procession, or when it is hoisted or lowered, all should stand, face the flag, and salute.

The Salute

To salute, all persons come to attention. Those in uniform give the appropriate formal salute. Citizens not in uniform salute by placing their right hand over the heart and men with head cover should remove it and hold it to left shoulder, hand over the heart. Members of organizations in formation salute upon command of the person in charge.

The Pledge of Allegiance and National Anthem

The pledge of allegiance should be rendered by standing at attention, facing the flag, and placing the right hand over the heart (the salute). Uniformed personnel, firefighters, law enforcement officers, and military personnel in uniform should render a hand salute. When the national anthem is played or sung, U.S. citizens should stand straight and rigid and salute at the first note and hold the salute through the last note. The salute is directed to the flag, if displayed, otherwise to the singer.

The following is generally accepted etiquette but is not addressed by law:

One should not smoke, eat, chew gum, drink, use your cell phone, read or otherwise occupy themselves while the Anthem is playing. While the national anthem originated from a poem and was later put to music, it has been rendered and performed in various ways. Generally speaking it should be performed in the traditional manner in order to allow other U.S. Citizen to sing along should they so desire. Rearrangement of the National Anthem is frowned upon by some but there is certainly no prohibition against it. When performed ceremonially it should be sung and played in the proper keys and range. 

Other Protocols Related to the Proper Etiquette of Our Flag:

The US flag should never touch the ground. Fold it properly and store it properly.

The flag should not be flown at night unless it has a spot light on it. If there’s no spotlight then it should be taken down prior to official sunset.

Within the United States, (excluding foreign embassies and hostiles) no flag should fly above the US Flag on the same or adjacent poles or structures.

Shredded or worn flags should be replaced as soon as possible. It is more respectful to take down a torn flag than it is to keep flying. The proper disposal of the American flag is to burn it! The American Legion, Veterans of Foreign Wars and the Disabled American Veterans Organizations will facilitate this should a citizen so choose. The flag should not be thrown in the garbage.

One should not write on the American flag.

Many have served our country; many have died serving our country; and many will die serving our country. Most of us would claim that we are patriotic, but a true patriot will honor those who serve us, those who offer us the ultimate sacrifice, by honoring the standards that they preserve so selflessly simply by observing a few basic guidelines in proper respect and etiquette toward our national symbols.

This entry was posted on 5. April 2009 at 21:37 and is filed under Social Problems. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response or trackback from your own site.