Posted on 09/02/2011 10:37:29 AM PDT by Walleye_Walter
John Henderson couldn’t take it any longer.
He put down his half-eaten Whopper, got up from his seat inside Burger King on West Perkins Avenue and sauntered outside.
It was late afternoon, about one week ago.
He stopped at the flag pole, where he proceeded to lower the American flag that was flying high above the restaurant.
Henderson, 63, folded up the huge mass of red, white and blue and loaded into his pickup. Then he drove to the nearby VFW post, where he hoped the flag would be “retired properly.”
“When I looked at the flag he brought in, I was astonished — it was terrible,” VFW Post 2529 commander Butch Michel said. “It was frayed out a couple feet.”
(Excerpt) Read more at sanduskyregister.com ...
The hurrican frayed out a lot of flags, I took mine down before the storm hit, but it’s back up now.
Did the Hurricane reach Ohio?
There’s no good excuse for flying a ragged flag.
I wonder if the flag can be repaired as the Burger King guy claims?
Good American!
I am a naturalized citizen, but sometimes I think I know more flag etiquette than many born in the USA citizens. I used to teach at a small school and it drove me nuts to see the kids playing with the flags that were in their classrooms. The administration felt it was ok for them to do so, as long as they put them down when the bell rang! I’ve seen a lonely student take down the flag from the pole in front of the school at the end of the day and, probably because he was by himself, drag it on the ground. And what about all those t-shirts, bandannas, bikinis... that look as if they had been made from a flag?
Bad American.
Being a veteran does not grant him the right to steal other peoples’ property.
I’m from canada originally and it pisses me off more that natural-born Americans don’t give a rip about their own flag. I’ve seen USPS guys who at the end of their shift lower the flag respectfully, and these are union Dem members.
Yup. You can go to any Wal-Mart and get a nice 3x5, made in china, American flag for a few bucks.
That particular flag might be too far gone, but in general a sewn flag can be repaired if the stripes haven't ripped apart too much. With really large flags, repair rather than replacement might be advisable.
Long, long ago, in a galaxy State far, far away ...
I was that "lonely" student. My (well, the school's, but you get the idea ...) Flag didn't touch the ground.
A BP gas station where I always buy my gas was flying the flag at full staff one day when it was supposed to be flying half staff. I brought it to the owner's attention and he immediately sent his son out to correct his error. He didn't know about the governor's directive for that day......
When my flag shows wear (and in Sacramento, it’s usually fading rather than any fabric damage), I take it to the VFW to be retired. It’s nice to know they can do it properly since I can’t at home.
The flag weighs 100 lbs! That ain’t no Walmart flag.
Can’t argue that one.
Sorry, I have to disagree. The size flag that typically would be flown at a school wouldn't be so large that one person wouldn't be able to carry it by himself without dragging it on the ground.
Another good reason for taking down flags before hurricane force winds hit is that flag poles have a wind rating with flags flown and the flag pole alone.
I started shopping for a telescoping flag pole that could be carried in my RV. Telescoping flag poles have a much lower wind rating than one piece poles when used as a flag pole in the ground at home
Your local Boy Scouts of America unit (Pack, Troop, Crew, Team, Ship) also retires flags, generally with a very meaningful retirement ceremony (the U.S. Flag Code doesn't require a ceremony, but only says that the flag "should be destroyed in a dignified way, preferably by burning"). Some examples.
I was given one at church last Sunday for my Troop to retire.
I carry an inexpensive 3 by 5 flag in my truck.
When I see a flag in need of replacement, I’ll walk up to the house with a flag behind my back or in a paper bag.
“I can’t help but notice your flag is a bit tattered.”
I wait a second or two for them to start to formulate a responce. I then say;
This flag is a gift. May I replace the one you have and dispose of the other ?”
I’ve met a lot of great people this way.
Most of the time all one has to do is ask..........
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