With Flag Day approaching, I wanted to get some information about when to fly your flag, how to fly your flag, etc. For an in depth list of days to fly your flag full or half-staff, you can go to www.flagandbanner.com.
As I went through webpages for info, I remembered from my days at Awanas, yes many, many years ago, that we did a lesson or two on the flag. Digging out my old Awana handbooks, I found a few gems that made me smile.
For those of you unaware, Awana is a Christian based club where students learn Bible verses as well as basic manners and other things they consider crafts. Crafts include: courtesy, first aid, exercising, bicycle care, safety and others (at least, that’s the way it was when I was in it!)
Awana stands for Approved Workmen Are Not Ashamed. (I didn’t even have to look that up!)
This first pic is from the level of Skipper, young elementary school age, first and second grade. It comes with the flag rule: “When carrying our country’s flag, never let it touch the floor or ground.”
Now, as I got older, I moved up to the Guards which was in fifth grade. This craft was required and I found the title ironic as now a days, patriotism seems to be less than required and almost spoken in hushed tones around certain areas of the country. Has it really been that long ago?
Rules encompass where the U.S. flag will be carried in a parade or procession- “At the extreme right or front and center of all other flags.”
How is the U.S. flag displayed against a wall with another flag? “The U.S. flag is displayed on its right (viewer’s left) with its staff crossing over the staff of the other flag.”
The U.S. flag should also be centered and higher than any other flag it is being flown with and it should always be raised first and lowered last. The U.S. flag should be raised to it’s peak before lowered to half-staff, then raised to the peak again before being lowered completely.
When displayed outdoors, the U.S. flag should be raised at sunrise and lowered at sunset and during bad weather, the flag should be brought indoors. At no point should the U.S. flag be allowed to touch the ground and once the flag is degraded and no longer suitable for display, the flag should be burned for disposal.
I remember very vividly my dad helping me learn to fold the flag, of course with Navy precision, in our living room. What are your memories of the United States flag?
