U.S. Flag RANT!!! and some info...

[domino7]

Years ago everyone was taught to respect the flag. Not so much any more. Many don't even realize that there are rules for displaying.

 

[tabsmonsters]

Quote:
Americana is a american folk art and a great part of american history. It shows how proud people are of their country.

Maybe our definitions of Americana are different? I mean I have all kinds of stuff with the American Flag all over it. I even made my curtains using fabric with the flag on it.

 

[ursusarctosana]

Artifacts of American culture and history like apple pie, or other things that embody U.S. American lifestyle and culture throughout the countries brief, but colorful history. Like a 1970 Dodge Challenger could be classified as Americana or, perhaps, an antique flag in a museum.

 

[tabsmonsters]

oops, then I called it the wrong thing then. I had always heard/seen what I have as Americana.

 

[ursusarctosana]

If it is folk art that is red, white, and blue, then it could be known as Patriotic Americana Folk Art.

 

[Hens_And_Chicks]

Count me among those who want to see the US flag flown with and shown all due respect is deserves. If it is tattered, it needs retired.

I have been part of a flag retirement ceremony and it is very somber to say the least. The US flag represents my freedom - I get emotional and teary eyed when soldiers march by me in a parade or the National Anthem is sung - yes, I stand and place my hand over my heart.

However, nothing compares to the emotion provoked when a flag draped coffin carrying a US Troop is unloaded from a military plane and the flag is folded and presented to the next of kin at that cemetary.

 

[ursusarctosana]

Here's a link to the ushistory.org website's "Wall of Shame" showing photos of instances where the U.S. flag is being disrespected.

http://www.ushistory.org/BETSY/wallofshame.htm

Here's another site you may like, called the "Hall of Shame":

http://www.reanes.com/catalog.html (If you are irritated at McDonald's there's more for you here!)

 

[Dar]

Quote:
You ARE an American. America is a continent. You are a Canadian American.

I appreciate the sentiment however...not everyone from North America is American. I am Canadian.. and not an Canadian American. Being American refers to someone who is a citizen of the USA (to which I am not) but thats another topic

 

[ursusarctosana]

Quote:
You ARE an American. America is a continent. You are a Canadian American.

I appreciate the sentiment however...not everyone from North America is American. I am Canadian.. and not an Canadian American. Being American refers to someone who is a citizen of the USA (to which I am not) but thats another topic

I know a lot of people use the term "American" to refer to U.S. citizens, but America is a continent and anyone who resides on the American continent is an American. For example, Brazilians are American and all Native Americans are not from ancestral tribes indigenous to the U.S. Usually it is obvious that the person who says "I am American" actually means they are a United States citizen, but that is a bit ethnocentric due to the fact that Americans may be Mexican or Peruvian, or Canadian. I think it is this exclusion of other American countries that lead to the terms like Mexican-American meaning a person of Mexican descent who is a U.S. citizen, etc.

I didn't know this, but apparently any artist is advised to contact an attorney before depicting the U.S. flag in any sculpture, painting, or any other form of visual art, including quilting.

 

[WriterofWords]

The Boy Scouts are now the only ones who can dispose of retired flags.v But that doesn't stop other groups from doing it, and as long as it's done right, I have no objections.

Thought you might like this:

What is proper procedure to retire a flag?

National Flag Foundation recommends the following as the proper ceremonies for retiring and destroying a worn Flag.

Ceremony of Final Tribute

This ceremony should be conducted at a private, non-public location.

Only one Flag, representing all those to be destroyed, should be used in the ceremony.

Two color guards should be used at evening retreat, one for the Flag currently in use and a special color guard for the Flag to be permanently retired.

Just before sunset, the Flag that has been flying all day is retired in the normal, ceremonial procedure for the group or site.

The color guard responsible for the Flag receiving the final tribute moves front and center. The leader should present this color guard with the Flag that has been selected for its final tribute and subsequent destruction. The leader then should instruct the color guard to "hoist the colors".

When the Flag has been secured at the top of the pole, the leader comments:

"This Flag has served its nation long and well. It has worn to a condition to which it should no longer be used to represent the nation. This Flag represents all of the Flags collected and being retired from service today. We honor them all as we salute one Flag."

The leader then calls the group to attention, orders a salute, leads the entire group in the "Pledge of Allegiance" and orders the Flag retired by the color guard.

Slowly and ceremoniously, the flag is lowered, then respectfully folded in the customary triangle. The Flag is delivered to the leader and then the group is dismissed.

This concludes the Ceremony of Final Tribute.

Ceremonial Burning of the Flag

This ceremony should be conducted at a private, non-public location.

Fire and Flag Preparation:

The burning of a Flag should take place at a campfire in a ceremony separate from the Ceremony of Final Tribute. The fire must be sizable (preferably having burnt down to a bed of red hot coals to avoid having bits of the Flag being carried off by a roaring fire), yet be of sufficient intensity to ensure complete burning.

Before the ceremony begins, the color guard assigned to the Flag opens up its tri-corner fold and then refolds it in a coffin-shaped rectangle.

When all is ready:

All assemble around the fire. The leader calls the group to attention.

The color guard comes forward and places the Flag on the fire.

All briskly salute.

After the salute, but while still at attention, the leader should conduct a respectful educational program as the Flag burns: e.g. singing of "God Bless America"; offering an inspiring message of the Flag's meaning followed by the "Pledge of Allegiance"; performing a reading about the Flag; reciting the "American's Creed"; etc.

When the Flag is consumed, those assembled, with the exception of a leader and the color guard, should be dismissed. They should be led out in single file and in silence.

The leader and color guard should remain to ensure that the Flag is completely consumed, and to burn additional Flags, if any.

The fire should then be safely extinguished.