One Day, Two Meanings
(photo courtesy of Wikipedia)
June 14th, a day that I remember every year, for two reasons. The first reason, on this date, back in 1777, the United States of America had its first design of the flag approved by the Continental Congress. Similar to todays design, it was comprised of red and white stripes, the same number as today, and a field of blue, with thirteen stars, representing the thirteen colonies that made up the United States at the time.
(photo of painting by Percy Morgan – “The Birth Of Old Glory”)
Over the centuries there have been many re-designs of “old glory,” adding additional stars as more states were added to the United States, until we have the flag that is displayed today, thirteen stripes and fifty stars representing the fifty states. I know this, because one of the first reports I ever wrote, as an elementary student, was on “Flag Day.” I got an “A” and remember being so proud of my writing effort.
That year, and every year after that, our house displayed “old glory” on Flag Day, in addition to all of the other holidays that recognized federal holidays. It is likely this class assignment is the reason that I feel so strongly about “old glory.”
A symbol representing all that our country stands for, there are actual guidelines for the display and respect of the American flag. As listed on the American Legion website, the United States Flag Code, Chapter one lists display rules, times and occasions, position, respect, and conduct. Typically the flag is flown only from sunrise to sunset, unless it is illuminated by supplemental lighting. It gets raised quickly, and lowered “ceremoniously.” The flag does not get flow in bad weather unless it is of waterproof material. There are rules as far as any other objects or flags accompanying the red, white, and blue.
This next set of rules, deals with respect for the flag. It never gets flown upside down except as a signal of distress. Nothing touches the underneath the flag like the ground, water, etc.. The flag must fly “aloft and free” not flat or horizontally (going to be a problem for pro football games when they do the national anthem). Are you ready for this one? NEVER… I say NEVER should the flag be worn as apparel (tough news for all those who wear the flag soaking up their swamp asses as if a maxipad – this is a real peeve of mine). The flag should also, never be altered, this means like adding a color to a stripe, or changing the colors of the flag to make it “team colors” for a pro ball team.
And finally, when a flag must be properly disposed of, there are rules. When the flag is tattered or torn, it is time. In the case of this photo, I took the picture, the flag’s edges were not only shredded, but the flag has been sucking exhaust from the truck. This is wrong, so wrong. Yes, I feel strongly about the flag, and it probably began when I learned it way back in school.
June 14th took on a different meaning, and again,a day that I cannot forget ever, now not just because of Flag Day, but one of the hardest days of my life. My role model, my inspiration, my grandmother passed away due to complications from ovarian cancer (she was previously a survivor of breast cancer).
Each year on this day, twenty-seven years now, I remember her. My inspiration in cancer survivorship, I sometimes struggle that by some miracle I am still here, not just the twenty-seven years since she passed, but thirty-five years of remission. For whatever reason, whatever the stars have planned, I will likely see my sixtieth birthday later this year, something I definitely did not think possible back at the age of twenty-two when I was diagnosed.
Paul's Heart 