Flag Day

From our friends at Patriotic Resistance:

Properly Display Our Flag

There is a right way and a wrong way to display the flag. The American
flag should be held in the highest of regards. It represents our nation and
the many people who gave their lives for our country and our flag. Here are
the basics on displaying the American flag:

* The flag is normally flown from sunrise to sunset.
* In the morning, raise the flag briskly. At sunset, lower it slowly. Always, raise and lower it ceremoniously.
* The flag should not be flown at night without a light on it.
* The flag should not be flown in the rain or inclement weather.
* After a tragedy or death, the flag is flown at half staff for 30 days. It's called "half staff" on land ,and "half mast" on a ship.
* When flown vertically on a pole, the stars and blue field , or "union",
is at the top and at the end of the pole (away from your house).
* The American flag is always flown at the top of the pole. Your state flag and other flags fly below it.
* The union is always on top. When displayed in print, the stars and blue
field are always on the left.
* Never let your flag touch the ground, never...period.
* Fold your flag when storing. Don't just stuff it in a drawer or box.
* When your flag is old and has seen better days, it is time
to retire it. Old flags should be burned or buried. Please do not throw it in the trash.


The Colors

There is no official assignment of meaning or symbolism to the colors of the flag. However, Charles Thomson, secretary of the Continental Congress, in describing the Great Seal, related its
colors to those of the flag.


According to Thomson,
"White signifies purity and innocence,
Red, hardiness & valor,
and Blue . . . vigilance, perseverance & justice."

Vigilance, perseverance &
justice
Purity and
innocence
Hardiness &
valor


So the Red and White stripes of 13 represent the link to the original ground of 13 states on which the nation has been built up. And the stars, representing the union of now 50 states, have been laid on the blue canton to bind all of them with the bond of vigilance, perseverance and justice.