Dear Editor,

Growing up during the 1940s and 1950s, my heroes were soldiers not sports figures.  I learned to respect the United States Flag and was taught how to display and treat it, and what the flag really means.  I learned from the nuns at St. Joseph Orphanage here in Torrington the flag is a symbol of hope, not just in the United States, but throughout the world. Later while serving in the U. S. Air Force I learned it also meant safety.  When we flew back from a mission and saw the flag waving over the air base, we knew we were safe.
I have noticed in the past few years many people don’t know U. S. Flag etiquette nor understand it is not honoring the flag or patriotic to wear clothes and headbands that look like the flag, sit on chairs that look like the flag, use paper products with the Flag imprinted on them or grocery bags that look like the flag, etc.

Public Law 94-344, known as the Federal Flag Code, contains rules for handling and displaying the U.S. flag. Section 4 (d): “The flag should never be used as wearing apparel, bedding, or drapery. It should never be festooned, drawn back, nor up, in folds, but always allowed to fall free. Bunting of blue, white, and red, always arranged with the blue above, the white in the middle, and the red below, should be used for covering a speaker’s desk, draping the front of the platform and for decoration in general. Section 4 (i): The flag should never be used for advertising purposes in any manner whatsoever. It should not be embroidered on such articles as cushions or handkerchiefs and the like, printed or otherwise impressed on paper napkins or boxes or anything that is designed for temporary use and discard. Advertising signs should not be fastened to a staff or halyard from which the flag is flown. Section 4 (j): No part of the flag should ever be used as a costume or athletic uniform. However, a flag patch may be affixed to the uniform of military personnel, firemen, policemen, and members of patriotic organizations. The flag represents a living country and is itself considered a living thing.

Flag Day is June 14, so fly and respect the flag.

Paul E. Puebla
Torrington