Flag flap in Iowa City: Serious issue or overblown?
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A photo from the Obama campaign shows a tarp between the flag and the ground. (Obama campaign)
Two large American flags displayed during President Barack Obama’s Iowa City campaign rally Friday may have been handled in an inappropriate manner.
Photographs show two flags appearing to be on the ground — but on a tarp in other photos provided by the Obama campaign — in preparation of the campaign stop, which included Obama, Vice President Joe Biden and their spouses.
According to the U.S. Flag Code, “The flag should never touch anything beneath it, such as the ground, the floor, water, or merchandise.”
John Derner, department adjutant for the American Legion of Iowa, said it would be improper to place a U.S. flag on the ground. But Erin Seidler, a spokeswoman for the Obama campaign, said in an email message the flags were never on the ground and were lying on a tarp “in accordance with protocol.”
Do you think the flags were handled inappropriately? Is the issue a significant one, in your view?
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the issue is significant. However in the 11 years i have lived in central OH i have seen many commercial establishments and several veteran’s organizations displaying an appalling lack of flag etiquette. so who’s to be surprised when somebody else doesn’t know how to treat Old Glory properly. Businesses here routinely leave flags out in the rain as did a veteran’s affairs office i used to drive by. a post of a well known veteran’s assoc. lines it’s rather lengthy drive with small US flags 24/7 w/o lights and in all sorts of weather. The incident in this article is regretable but hardly scandalous given what i’ve seen.
This is really simple… for civilians, and those who haven’t draped the coffins of their friends and loved ones under those colors, you don’t care, you never will, which is why you call it a “Flag Flap”. First of all, it’s not a flag, they are your COLORS.
For Military, Police, Firefighters, Corrections officers, Ambulance, Rescue, pretty much any type of “SERVICE TO THE PEOPLE” it means a WHOLE lot more. My friends are buried under those colors, that represents what we fight, bleed, and die for. It’s just a silly flag to you and most people… and these are the same people with the “support our troops” stickers. Yet that’s pretty much the extent of your “support”. Thanks for the sticker… that sure helped out a lot!
Don’t forget the obligatory flag lapel pin (Made in China), and all the various modifications of the flag for use as clothing and symbols and such. Yeah, I’d much rather see a politician wearing that Chinese-made flag lapel pin than hear them mention our troops and veterans in a speech.
Oh for heaven’s sake. Some people really do need to get a life.
Given that it is clear in this brief little article that both John Derner, American Legion of Iowa, or Erin Seidler, Obama campaign, were responding to a question, it seems that somebody on the Gazette staff decided to manufacture a controversy where there was none.
Don’t we have enough to argue about without that
You are totally wrong Roberta. You have a life because in our cherished American tradition respect for the flag is an important aspect. If we cannot agree that we are Americans, salute the flag of our Country and support it then what do we have in common?
Mr Ellis,
In order to hang a flag of that size, it has to be laid flat. Because of its size, the only practical place to lay it out is on the ground. It was laid out on a tarp to protect it. If it had been laid out on a table, would that have bothered you?
My point was that this is a manufactured controversy and, as such, is insulting
This is a bogus controversy. A regulation US flag measures 3′ x 5′, OR 5′ x 9.5′ for coffin-drape flags. The enormous fabric “flags” used in the referenced event are technically not US flags and are therefore exempt from having to be handled IAW The Flag Code. (I am not implying that anything disrespectful was done with these outsized items, or that it is somehow acceptable to abuse them, just that they are not subject to the same handling protocol as a genuine flag. When you have a banner that is far larger than a regulation flag, some of the handling rules become impossible to obey, and common sense tempered with respect should take their place.
No issue here at all. Flags can be placed on a table, a chair, a box, a tarp, whatever. While they should normally not be placed directly on the ground, there are times when a flag may inadvertently touch the ground. Even then, not a big deal unless the flag becomes soiled or otherwise unserviceable, or if the flag is being thrown on the ground and trampled or some such in a deliberate manner.
Seems some folks are quick to manufacture controversy where none exists.
Side note for the gentleman concerned with flags being out in the rain, that’s not an issue (unless the flag is not made of an all-weather material) Having served on many a flag detail in my years of service, I can tell you that every Fort, Base, Post, etc where I served we had 3 different flags for use depending on circumstance…Garrison, Post, and Storm (in descending order of size) Post was the routine day-to-day flag. Garrison was used for special occasions & holidays. Storm, being the smallest, was routinely used in inclement weather.
Flags should be lit at night, should be treated with respect, disposed of properly when no longer serviceable, etc. If you don’t know where to dispose of a flag, feel free to contact me, any service organization post (American Legion, VFW, DAV, AMVETS, etc), or your local county veterans affairs office.
Lear more at http://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/CDOC-108hdoc97/pdf/CDOC-108hdoc97.pdf
To those who would re-write the Declaration of Independence, twist the words in the Constitution and tread on our American heritage and culture I guess the flag doesn’t have significance. I think respecting the flag falls in line with respecting our military and the freedoms they bought and maintain for us with their sacrifice. It means respecting our freedoms and our libertys.
America is a great country because of its heritage and its traditions. I’m not opposed to making America better but I don’t believe it starts with running America down or disposing of our heritage and traditions so lightly. Ignoring respect for the flag is a step in the direction of degrading America instead of making it better.
Somebody made a mistake. Let’s recognize why its a mistake and move on.
And just who would “those” folks be, Gary? Do tell, please.
To completely answer the question… it is seriously overblown.
Roberta you are EXACTLY the type of person I was refering to, thank you for proving my point. And Mr. Lorenz, there are 5 basic flag sizes Garrison, Post, Field, Storm, and Interment… The Garrison flag which was laying on the ground here measure 20′ by 38′ and takes a minimum of 8 handlers to properly raise and lower. So their only defense to me is that the Obama Campagin Coordinatior couldnt muster 8 supporter to properly unfurl and post the colors. Worthless civilians…
The very large flag used at the event may or may not have been a Garrison flag…I don’t recall the measurements being given. Even if it were, the flag was not raised and lowered as with a posting or presenting of the colors. It was part of a static display, erected before the event, so no 8+ person team would be required. Such static displays are a staple of many a political rally, civic event, sporting event, etc. The only folks making an issue of this behind-the-scenes glimpse of event prep seem to be the same folks who create controversy over birth certificates and chem-trails.
As for the comment “Worthless civilians….”, I find that highly insulting and inappropriate. If you think you have something to teach those “civilians”, you sure didn’t pick a method or tone that would be conducive to them being willing to learn anything from you. Besides, you don’t have a monopoly on patriotism, not by a long shot.
Here’s that link to a good read about our flag: http://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/CDOC-108hdoc97/pdf/CDOC-108hdoc97.pdf I’ll trust you to have the ability to Google basic instruction in civility.
It is way overblown and the complainers have too much free time on their hands with nothing else to do. There was a tarp underneath, which is sufficent protection in my opinion and my father paid the price in the Phillipines in 1945 for me to have that opinion, thank you very much Jason Chrzan.
Mr Engledow,
Thank you for pointing that out. I have family members who fought in every war this country has engaged in since 1846. I think we’ve all lost family, friends, classmates, neighbors. We’ve all been affected by the wars that we’ve lived through. There was a saying for those of us of the Vietnam Generation, whether we served or not, and that was the war will never be over until the last of us are dead. I think that applies to people who lived through any of the wars, any war at all.
With regard to the flag, my guess is that those who insist on making a fetish of what is, on a literal level, a rectangle of cloth are the same people who can’t understand why some Muslims get so upset when their religion is insulted