It was not an official flag. It was one of those flags you hang on your fence post for Memorial Day or 4th of July. It looks like a traditional flag, but it is made from a type of plastic material that gets weathered and fades pretty quickly. They do not cost a lot of money so people usually buy them new each year to hang up in the neighborhood.
This particular flag had been reused a few years for these occasions and had seen its better days. So, while I was cleaning up around the shed I bagged it up to toss in the garbage.
My husband happened to see this and he pulled it out of the garbage and marched back to our shed to store it. When I asked him what on earth he was doing, he told me you can't throw away the American Flag. I said, "It's not an American Flag it's one of those fence flags." He said that was the same thing.
When we first moved into our home there was a flagpole in the front yard. The lady who had built our home was a retired principal, so I gathered she was carrying on the tradition she had at her school by having a flagpole. But hurricanes had bent it and the rope was frayed and a neighbor stopped one day to inform me that I was not supposed to keep the flag hanging overnight. I was supposed to raise it fresh each morning. But the rope had frayed to the point where the flag was stuck so I cut the rope and stored that flag in the shed where this new fence flag had joined it.
While I was discussing this the other day a lady overheard me and shamed me by saying a flag can only be done away with by a certain ritual. There was such a thing as Flag Etiquette. So, I looked it up. I have always been proud to be an American and do not carry this blessing lightly.
Our flag should be displayed from sunrise to sunset unless lit. It should be raised briskly and lowered slowly. A wall or window flag should have the blue union field kept to the observers left. If there is cause for half-staff it should be raised briefly before lowering it slowly to half-staff. Clothing should not be made out of a flag. Do not use the flag as a ceiling cover, furniture drape, or vehicle cover. One is not to ever draw on it, write on it, or attach any mark or object to the flag.
Retiring of a worn flag has an expectation as well. When a flag is tattered or worn out, dispose of it respectfully, preferably by burning in a dignified ceremony. Local American Legion posts or fire departments often accept old flags for proper disposal.
Most of this I knew, but not the proper disposal part that left me somewhat frustrated with myself.
While popular legend credits Betsy Ross with sewing the first flag, historians note Francis Hopkinson is more likely the actual designer.
Presidents Taft and Eisenhower set official rules for star rows and proportions leading to the current 50 star design used since July 1960.
I have always honored the symbolism of liberty and freedom carried in our flag's meaning and now have a special place to store all future tattered pieces that represent those who died for such freedom. My apologies to my forefathers and I hope this educates others who may have also been naive.
