Re: American Flag
Patrick Skelly (ScoutLdr@AOL.COM)
Sat, 25 Feb 1995 19:22:32 -0500
The text below, beginning at "United States Code", is an extract from that
part of the law that might pertain to the orientation of a flag on the
fuselage of an airliner ... if one can accept the fuselage as being a wall.
The bottom line is that it is 'correct' on the port side and 'not correct'
on the starboard side.
Not wrong, just not correct. The flag code does not say "shall", but rather
"should"!
The rationalization that the union should be toward the front of the
aircraft, and the free-end streaming 'in the wind', IS VERY REASONABLE. I
cannot imagine that anyone in a responsible regulatory or juridical position
would say otherwise.
*** And as an added attraction, this week only ***
The last paragraph is the very misunderstand federal statement on how to most
properly retire an old flag. That's all, folks ... those 28 words really are
ALL that appears in federal law on this matter. Please don't let anyone tell
you more or different. Let "36 U.S.C. 176(k)" flow glibly from your lips or
fingertips as you show them the way out. Thanks!
- Pat Skelly <ScoutLdr@AOL.com>
host, Scouting Online forum, America Online
... and the house vexillologist
United States Code
Title 36: Patriotic Societies and Observances [Sometimes cited as the
(Federal) Flag Code]
Section 173: Display and use of flag by civilians; codification of rules and
customs; definitions
The following codification of existing rules and customs pertaining to the
use and display of the flag of the United States of America is established
for the use of such civilians or civilian groups or organizations as may not
be required to conform with regulations not promulgated by one or more
executive departments of the Government of the United States, The flag of the
United States for the purpose of this chapter shall be defined according to
sections 1 and 2 of Title 4 and Executive Order 10834 issued pursuant
thereto.
Section 175: Position and manner of display
(i) When displayed either horizontally or vertically against a wall, the
union should be uppermost and to the flag's own right, that is, to the
observer's left. When displayed in a window, the flag should be displayed in
the same way, with the union or blue field to the left of the observer in the
street.
Section 176: Respect for flag
(k) The flag, when it is in such condition that it is no longer a fitting
emblem for display, should be destroyed in a dignified way, preferably by
burning.
Terry Howerton Sakima Group, Inc. SCOUTER Magazine Kansas City | 
