Conform with Flag Code

Dear Editor: Public Law 94-344, known as the Federal Flag Code, contains rules for handling and displaying the U.S. flag. It states, in part, that “when a patriotic effect is desired, the flag may be displayed twenty-four hours a day if properly illuminated during the hours of darkness.”

There are many places in Ulster County that the flag is flown 24 hours per day. Many of these places are in violation of Public Law 94-344 for not “properly illuminating” the flag after dark.

The Triple A oil company on state Route 28 is an example of how the flag should be “properly illuminated” after dark. They have a powerful spotlight shining on their flag after dark.

The gas station in my neighborhood, however, has a flag on a pole constantly, but at night there is a light on the top of the pole that shines up into the night sky and does not shine any light onto the flag. This is far from “properly illuminated”.

The town of Woodstock has two tall poles that each fly a flag constantly. The one on the Comeau property has a strong light that provides “proper illumination” after dark. The pole on the village green that displays a flag 24 hours a day only gets ambient light from street lights that are at least 50 feet away. The town supervisor has assured me he is working to correct this.

While there is no penalty for not properly illuminating the flag after dark, every effort should be taken by those displaying it to conform to the code.

Marlin Klinger, West Hurley