[jblum315]

All over The Villages, I see our beautiful American flag on display in front of people's homes. However, leaving the flag on display at night is disrespectful and wrong according to the official protocol governing the display of the American flag. The flag is meant to be taken down at sunset. If it is left up, it must be properly lighted. It should also be taken down during stormy weather.
It hurts me to see the symbol of our great country used as a decoration and not treated with the respect it deserves.

[raynitsche]

Your soooo right but I don't believe many people know about being lit at night.

[mulligan]

If you look at the top of the pole, you will frequently see a disc which is a solar/led light. Not real bright, but probably covers the intent.

[redwitch]

Mulligan, I'm with jblum on this one. "Covering the intent" just doesn't cut it in my mind. It is to be lit up, not glowed up. And what, pray tell, is the excuse for leaving the flag out when it is raining?

I still have the flag from my father's burial. I remember the reverence with which it was handed to my mother. My father felt it was an honor to serve his country. So did my brother. I felt (and feel) it was an honor for my father and brother to have served under this beautiful flag of ours.

I don't understand how so many so-called patriots (many of whom are ex-servicemen) are so willing to show such disrespect to their flag. The flag does not deserve to be flying tattered on the back of golf carts. It should not be displayed in the dark. It should always come in out of the rain. It should never touch the ground.

[kb8tpw]

I too take exception to many many of the ways in which Old Glory is displayd in the Villages. My personal peeve is when it is flown from a small staff near the garage door and considered to be lit by the pole light. That doesn't meet the criteria, again, in my opinion. Most of the solar lights are questionable at best, but an attempt is made in any vein to comply. I would like to address one other point you make, that of inclement wearher display. I mentioned my opinion earlier, that doesn't matter.

Public Law 94-344, known as the Federal Flag Code, contains rules for handling and displaying the U.S. flag. So, in regard to your displeasure regarding inclement wearher, I offer the following:

The Flag Code states:
The flag should not be displayed on days when the weather is inclement, except when an all weather flag is displayed, as you suggest, however, the language of this section reflects the now-popular use of flags made of
synthetic fabrics that can withstand unfavorable weather conditions. It is not
considered disrespectful to fly such a flag even during prolonged periods of
inclement weather. However, since the section speaks in terms of “days when the weather is inclement,” it apparently does not contemplate that on an otherwise fair day, the flag should be lowered during brief periods of precipitation.


Most of the flags available for purchase are made out of a light nylon which I would consider all-weather. They don't last too long and I use 3-4 a year replacing them frequently. In my nearly 3 years in the villages I have replaced two different solar lights as I was displeased with how they lit the flag atop my 22ft pole. I am also on my second "electric" light and am satisfied with that finally. You are absolutely right, there are a large number that pay the flag lip service and the flag code may be the law but there are no provisions for any ramifications and I would consider anything beyond that a political discussion that would not see the light of day here on TOTV.

I may be a bit predjuice, but after 26 years in the military and 24 years as a civil servant working on a base it was always reassuring when I left the midnight shift of working in the command center to see Old Glory flying out front. It seemed to make my nights work all worthwhile and reenforced what I had accomplished that night.

Drive around your neighborhood on June 14th, during the day and see the flags displayed compared to the day before. Most do not know the significance of June 14th........

God Bless the USA.

[notlongnow]

I do! It was the day that our current flag replaced the union jack.

Where I live I made the evening news because people noticed that I flew the flag at night and it had a light on it. Most people that contacted the news channel were not aware that this was the correct way to display the flag and had thought it should be taken down at night.

It is a shame!

[FoPAA]

Does anyone know where to take a wornout flag to get a proper "burial"? The only place I know of is the Boy Scouts.
Thanks, as always!

[CWGUY]

Originally Posted by FoPAA

Does anyone know where to take a wornout flag to get a proper "burial"? The only place I know of is the Boy Scouts.
Thanks, as always!

Lady Lake Flag Store

[CWGUY]

Originally Posted by jblum315

All over The Villages, I see our beautiful American flag on display in front of people's homes. However, leaving the flag on display at night is disrespectful and wrong according to the official protocol governing the display of the American flag. The flag is meant to be taken down at sunset. If it is left up, it must be properly lighted. It should also be taken down during stormy weather.
It hurts me to see the symbol of our great country used as a decoration and not treated with the respect it deserves.

When I look around the Villages I don't see people trying to be disrespectful
of our flag. I don't feel hurt, I feel PRIDE.

Have you ever seen Arlington National Cemetery on Memorial Day weekend.
You might not like it ???
Flags In at Arlington National Cemetery

[jblum315]

Originally Posted by CWGUY

When I look around the Villages I don't see people trying to be disrespectful
of our flag. I don't feel hurt, I feel PRIDE.

Have you ever seen Arlington National Cemetery on Memorial Day weekend.
You might not like it ???
Flags In at Arlington National Cemetery

Those flags are not displayed on flag poles. The Villages is not a National Cemetery.

[graciegirl]

Many of us were Girl Scouts and Boy Scouts and then leaders in those groups, many of us are people who served in our armed forces and all were taught flag protocol.

Respect for our flag and how it is to be handled was carefully taught us years ago in school and few escaped knowing how to handle the symbol of our great country.

Our generation was taught to remove our hats and cover our hearts as it passed and never let the flag touch the ground.

Thank you Jeanne for the reminder and I feel in my heart that none of us would disrepect the symbol of this great country but may have forgotten some of these important points..

[Golfingnut]

The rules concerning displaying the flag at night are listed in Section 2(a) of the United States Flag Code, and are as follows:

§6. Time and occasions for display
It is the universal custom to display the flag only from sunrise to sunset on buildings and on stationary flagstaffs in the open. However, when a patriotic effect is desired, the flag may be displayed twenty-four hours a day if properly illuminated during the hours of darkness.

I find it more disrespectful to never have the flag out at all. At least when flown at night, that house had someone with enough respect to buy and fly the Flag. I am sure when they do fly it 24 hours a day, they are doing it with their heart in the right place, so please consider that before condemning their actions. Next forth of July, look for households without a flag at all.

[Uptown Girl]

Originally Posted by FoPAA

Does anyone know where to take a wornout flag to get a proper "burial"? The only place I know of is the Boy Scouts.
Thanks, as always!

I don't know if you will feel that this is "protocol", but flags can be donated to Operation Shoebox. (Mondays @ Lake Miona rec center) This is the volunteer group that assembles and sends packages to our men and women serving overseas.

Within each bag that is packed is a note attached to a star cut from a retired American flag that can be tucked into a pocket or helmet.... notes of thanks that Operation Shoebox has received from recipients always include mention of that star. It is a gift of true caring to each recipient and touches them deeply.

[Cantwaittoarrive]

I also think displaying an USA flag made anywhere except the good old USA is disrespect. So many have fought and died for the USA that the symbol (flag) should never be displayed unless it's with respect! Better to not display than to display without the proper respect

[dillywho]

The most disrespectful thing I see here is at the parades. There are many who don't bother to stand, remove hats/caps, either salute (current and/or former military are allowed to do this) or place their hand over their heart, and save the rest of their conversations until after the colors have passed. It doesn't matter who is carrying the flag, military or just the common man, it is still what you do.

On the other hand, I have noticed some in wheelchairs struggle to stand for those few seconds as the flag bearers pass. The men who do this always remove their headgear first. They often have to hang on to someone or something with their hands, but they stand as best they can. I have also seen women stand as best they could, too. Many of the ones in wheelchairs who cannot stand at all, still show their respect in whatever way they can. I really, really admire all these people who put handicaps aside to honor our flag.