Fly Your Flag Proudly
by Sandy Fitzgerald
Is your grand old flag not looking so grand anymore?
If you’ve been flying your American flag for too long, you’ll notice that the red, white and blue has become pink, brown and teal. It’s possible that your flag is also getting torn and tattered around the edges.
You’re not honoring America by flying your flag in that condition. No matter how much you’ve spent on your flag, when it has become faded or torn, it’s time to get a new flag.
Now don’t just go throw your old flag in the garbage. There’s only one way to properly dispose of your flag, and that’s by burning it. If you don’t have a way to burn it, call your local American Legion or Veterans of Foreign Wars post, where veterans collect old flags and have flag burning ceremonies to help make sure no flags are thrown out with the trash.
After all, it’s easy, and often not that expensive, to find a new flag that you can fly proudly. If you order it now, it might be too late for Memorial Day, but it will arrive in plenty of time for the Fourth of July.
But which kind do you want?
Many people opt for a flag that comes with a pole and bracket so they can hang it from their front porch or deck.
The largest online vendor of US flags and flagpoles is http://www.united-states-flag.com. You can choose from nylon or polyester flags, indoor flags & kits, and large quantity stick flags. They carry over $4 million in inventory and ship hundreds of flags per day.
If it’s for your front porch, you’ll want a flag that will keep from getting wrinkled or shrinking, and one that does not fade easily. Usually nylon or polyester is the material you want. Cotton flags are used more for ceremonial purposes, such as the flags used on military veteran’s caskets, or indoor flags that aren’t as exposed to the elements. In addition, cotton flags are heavier, meaning that they can cause an outside flag pole to bend.
If you don’t want to hang a flag on your house, you might want to install a flagpole in your yard, where you can fly Old Glory high for all to see.
Many companies do sell 20 foot flagpoles that you can install in your yard, so that you can have a permanent display. If you’re planning to leave your flag flying all night, it’s preferable to install some kind of lighting that will shine a soft beacon on it.
Taller flagpoles, however, should not be installed if you live in a housing development or subdivision, without checking your homeowners’ association rules first. Many subdivisions are banning tall flagpoles, and you don’t want to spend the money involved just to have to have it taken down.
How expensive are flags? It all depends on the size, material and construction. You should make sure to get one that has metal grommets on it, so that it will hang nicely from whatever kind of pole you choose.
And if you don’t get a pole, but want to hang your flag vertically from your house, make sure you hang it correctly. According to U.S. Flag Code (Public Law 94-344) , there are certain ways an American flag must be hanged. Make sure the blue/star section of the flag (known as the Union side) is facing the viewer’s left, not the right.
Flying a flag every day, not just on the holidays, is a great way to show your support for the United States!