Old Glory flying high today

Today, you might see more of the ol' red white and blue flapping in the breeze.

Flag Day commemorates the official adoption of the banner by the Second Continental Congress in 1777. Though it's not a federal holiday, President Woodrow Wilson issued a proclamation in 1916 making June 14 the day Americans honor their flag. National Flag Day was established by an Act of Congress in 1949, during the Truman administration.

Joe Mabe, the 41-year-old assistant club manager at American Legion Post 166 in Goose Creek, said he'd like every day to be Flag Day.

"People are getting away from the flag and what it stands for," he said.

Love of country, expressed by honoring the flag, shouldn't be susceptible to political winds or global conflict, he said. "After 9/11 there were a lot of flags," Mabe said. "But a year later, less. The flag should be flown every day, 365 days a year."

The U.S. National Anthem, unlike most other national anthems, has the flag as its subject. Using a poem by Francis Scott Key written in 1814, the song refers to the bombardment of Fort McHenry by Royal Navy ships perched offshore in Chesapeake Bay.

The flag that flew at that time contained 15 stars and 15 stripes, the only one to increase the number of stripes from 13 (representing the original colonies). Though tattered, the flag of the still-young United States survived the onslaught from the British.

The first U.S. flag contained 13 stars formed into a circle. This "Betsy Ross" flag lasted 18 years before it was replaced with the 15-star, 15-stripe version.

For some, Flag Day is a bittersweet commemoration, a reminder that a different assemblage of red, white and blue gave way to the stars and stripes in 1865.

The Sons of Confederate Veterans in Florida raised a 30-foot by 50-foot Confederate battle flag on private property at the intersection of Interstates 4 and 75 near Tampa, citing disrespect to Southern heritage. In Columbia, the Confederate battle flag continues to fly on Statehouse grounds: an expression of pride according to some, an offense according to others.

Despite these ongoing flag flaps, nearly all Americans, no matter their heritage, are loyal to their country and its official flag, author and historian Jack Bass said.

"Flag Day, in terms of celebrating the flag of the United States of America, is a day to reflect on the fact that all the citizens of this country can join together as Americans," Bass said. "Many who feel connected to the

Confederate battle flag do so out of a heritage of their own. Many are descendents of people who fought in (the Civil War) and of many who died in that war.

"But in 2008, almost without exception, they look today at the American flag as the one to which they pledge allegiance and the one they hold most dear."

At the post office on Meeting Street, a few people stood in line for service. None purchased flag stamps, though.

And flags weren't requested earlier on Friday in anticipation of the holiday, according to two employees.

"Tim, has anybody asked you for flag stamps?" a clerk asked a colleague. "Tomorrow is Flag Day."

"No," Tim replied. "I knew it was Flag Day, but no one's asked for flag stamps, only for 'pretty' stamps."

One customer, having completed his transaction, left the post office with the image of the Liberty Bell protruding from his shirt pocket.

Flag etiquette

--The flag should never be dipped to any person or thing. It is flown upside down only as a distress signal.

--The flag should not be used as a drapery, or for covering, or for any decoration in general.

--The flag should never be used for advertising.

--The flag should not be used as part of a costume or athletic uniform, except that a flag patch may be used on the uniform of military personnel, fireman, policeman and members of patriotic organizations.

--The flag should have no mark, insignia, letter, word, number, figure, or drawing placed upon it.

--The flag should never be used as a receptacle for receiving, holding, carrying or delivering anything.

--When the flag is lowered, no part of it should touch the ground or any other object; it should be received by waiting hands and arms.

--To store the flag, it should be folded neatly and ceremoniously.

--The flag should be cleaned and mended when necessary.

--When a flag is so worn it is no longer fit to fly, it should be destroyed by burning in a dignified manner.

--When the flag is displayed from a staff projecting from a window, balcony, or a building, the union, or blue field, should be at the peak of the staff unless the flag is at half staff.

--When it is displayed from the same flagpole with another flag, the flag of the United States generally must always be at the top.

--When the flag is displayed over a street, it should be hung vertically, with the union to the north or east. If the flag is suspended over a sidewalk, the flag's union should be farthest from the building.

--When flown with flags of states, communities, or societies on separate flag poles which are of the same height and in a straight line, the flag of the United States is always placed in the position of honor — to its own right. The other flags may be smaller but none may be larger. No other flag ever should be placed above it.

--The flag of the United States is always the first flag raised and the last to be lowered.

--The flag should be raised briskly and lowered slowly and ceremoniously. Ordinarily it should be displayed only between sunrise and sunset. It should be illuminated if displayed at night.

--The flag is saluted as it is hoisted and lowered. The salute is held until the flag is unsnapped from the halyard or through the last note of music, whichever is the longest.

Reach Adam Parker at 937-5902 or aparker@postandcourier.com.