Flag etiquette

Despite the weather, The Grape Jamboree parades were still very nice. Geneva does a good job of putting on parades and I enjoy watching them each year. They were only marred by a few things. People next to me kept asking if it was over because of the large distances between the participants. They couldn’t see down the street and after a group would pass and be down the block with no one directly in front they would ask if that was the end. It did, however, give time for large crowds to cross the street; which they did numerous times. I could not believe the number of times large groups of people would walk in front of a moving vehicle to cross the street during the parade. Especially within 5 seconds of the announcer asking people NOT to walk in front of moving vehicles. Lastly, my seven year old son knows that when the American Flag passes by in a parade, you stand at attention, take off your hat if you are wearing one, and place your right hand over your heart. Public Law No. 110-181 Section 9 of title 4 states, United States Code states, “All persons present in uniform should render the military salute. Members of the Armed Forces and veterans who are present but not in uniform may render the military salute.” It is a shame that many adults do not know or practice this basic Flag etiquette. If you ask my children what the American Flag stands for, they will tell you in a word “freedom”. As a veteran, I find it disheartening that people of all ages don’t give the due respect that our Flag deserves. When you stand at attention with your hand over your heart, you are in effect remembering your pledge of allegiance as well as paying respect and remembering those that came before you and fought for the freedoms that you enjoy in this country. Freedoms that many people around the world don’t have. Like no other standard, our Flag is seen as a symbol of freedom wherever it flies. I know of no other country on earth that people will risk everything they have, including their lives, to be a part of. I haven’t ever heard of living the Cuban or Russian or even the Canadian dream. I don’t think it is asking too much to show the respect due to the symbol of this country. God Bless America.