THE SIGNIFICANCE OF SALUTING OUR FLAG

This author believes it is vital to revisit the reasons for pledging allegiance to the flag of the United States of America in response to recent acts by the NFL and some of its players. The flag of the United States has thirteen stripes that alternate between red and white from top to bottom. Each stripe symbolizes one of the thirteen founding colonies. A blue rectangle in the top left corner displays 50 white stars. The stars symbolize the fifty states of the United States of America. The thirteen colonies indicated by the stripes claimed independence from the Kingdom of Great Britain. They were the inaugural states. Old Glory, The Stars and Stripes, and The Star-Spangled Banner are monikers for the American flag. The first flag, established in 1776, included a Union Jack in the top left corner instead of stars. The second flag, flown from June 14, 1777, to May 1, 1795, included thirteen stars, each symbolizing one of the founding states: Connecticut, Delaware, Georgia, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, and Virginia. New stars were included into the flag to represent the addition of additional states to the union. Currently, there are 50 stars symbolizing the 50 states. Frances Bellamy penned the Pledge of Allegiance to the U.S. flag in 1892 to promote patriotism on Columbus Day. President Benjamin Harrison and Congress declared the flag ceremony a significant component of Columbus Day celebrations. The flag ceremony was implemented by the National Education Association for observance in public schools. In 1923, the phrase was altered from my flag to the flag of the United States of America to explicitly indicate to newcomers the flag to which they were swearing their allegiance. Congress formally approved the Pledge of Allegiance in 1942. In 1954, President Dwight D. Eisenhower urged Congress to include the phrase under God. This was carried out as an anti-communist action. The original flag salute included extending the right hand in a straight-armed gesture towards the flag. However, prior to World War II, this method of saluting the flag was considered too reminiscent of fascist salutes used by Nazi Germany. Congress revised the flag law to require honoring the flag by putting the right hand over the heart while saying the pledge. There are certain guidelines for displaying the American flag. When exhibited with other flags on the same pole, it should be positioned at the top. The flag is positioned on the marcher’s right side when carried in a procession. When the American flag is shown with other national flags, it is placed to the right and at the same level as the others. When the flag is displayed on a pole on a raised platform, it is positioned to the right of the person speaking. Otherwise, it is positioned above and behind the speaker. The star field faces east or north depending on the street’s direction when the flag is draped above the street. On Memorial Day, the flag is flown at half-staff until noon. Then it is elevated to its maximum height. Displaying the flag upside down is generally disapproved of. The U.S. Flag Code specifies that hanging the flag upside down is reserved for times of great hardship, such as when the flag’s owner is in grave danger. In the military, it is acknowledged as a distress signal. It is sometimes displayed upside down, contrary to regulations, as a form of protest against government acts. The flag code also includes guidelines for flag disposal. These regulations, along with others regarding presentation, will be discussed in a future article.