I’m 80 years old and I clearly remember pledging, with my hand over my heart, allegiance to the flag every morning during my elementary school days.
From flags displayed on my police uniforms and lapel pin flags on my suits while on assignments with the Justice Department, to standing for the presentation of colors during sporting events, to attending funerals with flag-draped coffins, I have shared respect and honor to our flag with fellow students, fellow police officers and other Americans at numerous sporting events and funerals.
With this lengthy personal history in mind, and with the American flag currently flying in front of my home, I’m worried about abuse of the American flag as a political weapon.
I’ve seen President Trump wrap himself around the flag at political rallies.
I’ve seen jacked-up pickup trucks with our flag flying, along with Confederate battle flags and Trump flags, combined with citizens flaunting assault rifles.
I’ve seen people with camouflaged attire, with an assault rifle slung over their shoulders, standing in front of our Utah State Capitol while holding our flag.
The most disconcerting observation I recently witnessed were people attacking the United States Capitol building using flag poles, with our American flag attached, as a weapon to strike uniformed police officers trying to protect the United States Congress from an insurrection. Are these recent displays of the American flag respectful or degrading?
Currently, when you observe the American flag blatantly flown or waving from the bed of a pickup truck do you feel a sense of shared patriotism or do you make other assumptions. Should the American flag, which belongs to all Americans, be used as a political tool or is this use of the American flag degrading respect for this honored symbol of America? With the below information in mind, you can find the answer.
U.S. Flag Code: “Flag Etiquette General Display: It is the universal custom to display the American Flag only from sunrise to sunset on a stationary flagstaff in the open. The flag should be hoisted briskly and lowered ceremoniously. ... The flag should not be draped over the hood, back of sides of a vehicle or of a train, or boat. When displayed on a motorcar, the staff shall be fixed firmly to the right front fender.”
Robert C. Wadman
Robert C. Wadman, Ph.D., is a professor emeritus, Department of Criminal Justice, Weber State University.
