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One would hope that the week proceeding Memorial Day would not have the news filled with horror stories concerning the American Flag. But then again, some people in the United States never cease to amaze us with there stupid and cowardly antics.

American Flags on Veterans’ Graves Destroyed

In preparation for Memorial Day, Greenwood Cemetery had been busy placing American Flags on the graves of 1000 veteran’s that hallow their grounds. Then Don Sandman noticed the desecration of American Flags on 18 of the veterans’ graves. It appears that someone just came by the graves and ripped the flags from their wooden poles.

In the York News-Times, Mr. Sandman stated,

“There’s the issue of desecrating the flag, and the issue of Memorial Day, but the fact that this took place on graves,” Sandman said, “that adds more to it. Being a spiritual person, I don’t feel like this is the same as if it happened on the flagpole in your yard. You’re actually desecrating a grave at the same time.”

The York News-Times as has a video of the story:

Let hope that the idiots that desecrated these flags on the graves of our honored veterans will get caught so that we can actually feature their pictures on our American Flag Wall of Shame.

No American Flags Allowed at Hillary Clinton Rally

The Bowling Green Daily News has a story about American Flags being confiscated at a Hillary Clinton rally on Sunday. Nancy Van Patten recalls the event:

“I was sort of flabbergasted that I had four 15-inch American flags confiscated by security. They informed me I could take the flag off the stick and have the flag – keep in mind the flag itself couldn’t have been any larger than 5 by 7 inches. Neither end of the wooden stick was sharp or pointed. So I told them to keep them. What has appalled me is the way they were handled. The security guard rolled them up and laid them on the ground.”

So not only are we not allowed to have an American Flag at a Democratic Party Candidates rally but rather we are to toss them on the ground? This certainly belongs on the American Flag Wall of Shame.

American Flags Allegedly Burned

Not to be outdone by our previous two inductees to the Wall, police in Manassas Park, Virginia are investigating three reports of American Flags being burned that were mounted to the front porch of peoples homes.

Again, let’s hope that the police catch these jerks as well so their pictures can blaze our Wall of Shame too.

According to the Flag Manufacturers Association of America the volume of imported American Flags has risen from $757,000 in 1998 to $5,300,000 in 2006, with most of the flags being imported from China. Not surprising, the largest year of imported flags was 2001 when $51.7 million worth of flags were imported, the majority, $34.8 million, occurring in October 2001. The latest economic census data from 2002 reports that the annual ammount of flags produced in the U.S. is $349.2 million. Thus, the $5.3 million of imported flags only amounts to about 1.5% of the total market but does that make it right?

Saying No to Imported American Flags

Minnesota State Representative Tom Rukavina doesn’t think foreign American Flags should be allowed. In a quote features in Minnesota Public Radio, he states,

“I was raised in a strong union household where I was taught to buy American. And what’s happening in this country, with losing our manufacturing and base, is frightening me. If anything should be made in the United States of America, if anything should be sacred to this country and the American worker, it’s the American flag.”

Any good American should agree with Representative Rukavina and many do. Legislators in 10 states have introduced or passed bills to ban the sale of foreign made American flags. These bills are mainly centered or based off of the Tennessee law on flags which bans government agencies from purchasing foreign made flags. While Minnesota is attempting to go as far as to ban the sale of all foreign made flags statewide.

Is Legislation on Foreign Flags Needed?

State laws prohibiting the sale or purchasing of foreign made American Flags seems like a good thing but is it really needed? Do we need yet more laws enacted to accomplish the obvious? Each American should make it a point to inspect what they are buying and refuse to purchase an American Flag unless it reads “Certified Made in the U.S.A.” a designation program run by the Flag Manufacturers Association of America.

In the voice or Earl Pitts, “Wake up America” and and do your part by making sure you’re not buying a foreign made American Flag. It may cost a few dollars more but it’s well worth it.

photo by jcolman

It is well know that typically the American Flag should only be flown from sunrise to sunset. Specifically, U.S. Code Title 4 Section 6 states:

“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 24 hours a day if properly illuminated during the hours of darkness.”

Flagpole Lighting

For those that wish to fly their flag at night the only solutions were bright spotlights, usually on the ground and pointing straight up. However, another solution is available.

Flagpole Beacon

The Flagpole Beacon is mounted on the top of the flag pole and shines down on the flag. It is designed so that it can swivel with the flag as the flag blows in the wind, allowing it to always be illuminated. The Flagpole Beacon is also energy efficient, using either LED or low-voltage halogen bulbs. You can also contact the manufacturer, Flagpole Warehouse, to get a quote for a solar version for use in areas that may not have easy access to electricity.

The internet and press is littered with stories about the American Flag. Unfortunately, the stories that get the most attention seem to be about desecration of the flag and not about honoring it. However, there are the occasional inspirational stories that quickly get swept away. The story of Elani Zotos, a Greek-American immigrant, is one of those inspirational stories. Yes, that is correct, I did say immigrant and inspirational in the same breath. True, most of the stories about immigrants focus on the illegal immigrants and their squatting on American soil and sponging up of free benefits. However, let us now look at a true American immigrant Hero.

Moving to America

After an “arranged” marriage Elani moved to American 30 years ago with her husband Jimmy. Since then the couple has been successful at opening several businesses. Then in 2006 Elani officially became an American Citizen. To show her love of her new Country she flew an American Flag outside of her new restaurant but it quickly became worn so she needed a new one. Unlike most people Elani decided she would stitch her own 30-foot flag instead of buying one.

Photo: Christopher Wehling/The Free Lance-Star

What Would a True American Immigrant Say?

Elani became a U.S. Citizen in August 2006. Later that day she attended a political and had the opportunity to meet President Bush. The Free Lance-Star recalls that day:

Later that day, Elani and Jimmy met President George Bush at a political gathering in Alexandria and Elani announced she was a new citizen.”I told him today is the happiest day of my life, and he look at me and said, ‘Where are you from?’ and I say, ‘Greece.'” “He say, ‘Oh, you have a beautiful country,’ and I say, ‘I know. It’s right here.'”

Wall of Honor

If there is a Wall of Shame, then there certainly needs to be a Wall of Honor. Please welcome Elani and her Flag of Honor to the Wall of Honor. Let’s hope that the Wall of Honor has the most members, members like Elani.

On Wednesday morning, Mr. and Mrs. Converse, a Michigan couple, discovered that their American Flag was missing from the flag pole. Then they noticed that the remains were on the ground at the bottom of the pole in the middle of a burnt grass spot. The flag had been burned in their yard.

Dennis Converse remembers being in love with the American Flag at least as far back as 5th grade. The year was 1976 and his class was writing letters to Rick Monday, the Chicago Cubs player who grabbed the American Flag away from two protesters who were on the outfield grass trying to burn it.

Flag Burning and the Constitution

Many American find the thought of burning the American Flag unimaginable and consider it as a horrendous act against Our Country. However this kind of desecration to the American Flag is protected under the Constitution. The debate of this protection is certainly beyond the scope of this post. However, was is not beyond the scope of this post is the shame involved in this act.

The Wall of Shame

It is understandable that in a manner of major protest against the government one is protected under the constitution and has the right to burn the American Flag. This protection was even challenged by the Senate a few years ago. However, there was not enough support to pass the flag burning amendment. What is not understandable is why someone would burn the American Flag under the cloak of darkness? Who would be such a coward to have to burn the flag at night? Could it have been kids, vandals or someone who is angry at the United States? Perhaps it was an upset illegal alien? In all actuality, the perpetrator will probably never get captured. However, we will capture this unknown individual(s) in what we will now call the Wall of Shame.