CHECKING OUT FLAGS
About 15 volunteers recently showed up at the Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) Post 1900 “home” on Seminary Avenue in Ukiah to sort through the 468 regulation “casket flags.” They were checking for damage, but also refolding flags so that the name of the deceased Veteran would show. Flags currently span WWI through Vietnam.
The flag workday was initiated by VFW Post Commander CAPT DC USN ret Mary Anne Gonzalez. For some time she has wanted to alphabetize the flags. Her husband, Allan, worked diligently to bring containers to working order (or bought new ones).
Veterans Phil Dow and Walt Gabler transported the flags from their storage place at the cemetery.
Gina Weaver, Ukiah Shamrock 4-H Community Leader, led 4-H members Garrett Weaver, Hayden Hayes, Marcela Vallejo and Ava Fay Haas. Jami Vallejo, 4-H “Wreaths Across America Project Leader, and Kim Mitchel, Dog Project Leader were all aboard to lend a hand, as well as Rachel and Emilio Chavez .
Ted Hester, the oldest Veteran present and a Ukiah Rotary member, more than kept up with the younger volunteers sorting and lifting flags.
The flags will be posted at Russian River Cemetery-ukiah Memorial Day, creating what has come to be known as “Avenue of Flags,” a truly awe-inspiring sight. This year, the flags will be posted alphabetically
with a “map” posted, so families can locate their beloved Veteran and his/her flag.
VFW Post is still reviewing plans for the Memorial Day service — whether it can be “live” on the actual day, or if (due to COVID restrictions) another year of pre-recording the ceremony for viewing on Memorial Day.
Also in the works is the resuming of monthly fund-raiser Saturday breakfasts, a major part of the Post's scholarship funding, dormant since the pandemic began.
The flags are 5×9.5 feet and are fairly heavy to work with.
From Military.com, are these published rules about the flags.
“The rules for handling and displaying the U.S. Flag are defined by a law known as the U.S. Flag Code. We have excerpted the federal regulations here without any changes so you can find the facts here.
“The following is a portion of the text of the found in United States Code Title 4 Chapter 1. Time and occasions for display
It is the universal custom to display the flag only from sunrise to sunset on buildings and on stationary flagstaffs in the open. However, when a patriotic effect is desired, the flag may be displayed twenty-four hours a day if properly illuminated during the hours of darkness.
a.the flag should be hoisted briskly and lowered ceremoniously. b. The flag should not be displayed on days when the weather is inclement, except when an all-weather flag is displayed. c. The flag should be displayed on all days, especially on
-New Year's Day, January 1 -Inauguration Day, January 20 -Martin Luther King Jr.'s birthday, third Monday in January -Lincoln's Birthday, February 12 -Washington's Birthday, third Monday in February -Easter Sunday (variable) -Mother's Day, second Sunday in May -Armed Forces Day, third Saturday in May -Memorial Day (halfstaff until noon), the last Monday in May -Flag Day, June 14 -Father's Day, third Sunday in June -Independence Day, July 4 -Labor Day, first Monday in September -Constitution Day, September 17 -Columbus Day, second Monday in October -Navy Day, October 27 -Veterans Day, November 11 -Thanksgiving Day, fourth Thursday in November -Christmas Day, December 25 and such other days as may be proclaimed by the President of the United States -the birthdays of States (date of admission) -and on State holidays.
d. The flag should be displayed daily on or near the main
administration building of every public institution. e. The flag should be displayed in or near every polling place on election days. f. The flag should be displayed during school days in or near every schoolhouse.
8. Respect for flag No disrespect should be shown to the flag of the United States of America; the flag should not be dipped to any person or thing. Regimental colors, State flags, and organization or institutional flags are to be dipped as a mark of honor.
The flag should never be displayed with the union down, except as a signal of dire distress in instances of extreme danger to life or property.
a. The flag should never touch anything beneath it, such as the ground, the floor, water, or merchandise. b. The flag should never be carried flat or horizontally, but always aloft and free. c. 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. d. The flag should never be fastened, displayed, used, or stored in such a manner as to permit it to be easily torn, soiled, or damaged in any way. e. The flag should never be used as a covering for a ceiling. f. The flag should never have placed upon it, nor on any part of it, nor attached to it any mark, insignia, letter, word, figure, design, picture, or drawing of any nature. g. The flag should never be used as a receptacle for receiving, holding, carrying, or delivering anything. h. 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. i. 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. Therefore, the lapel flag pin being a replica, should be worn on the left lapel near the heart. j. The flag, when it is in such condition that it is no longer a fitting emblem for display, should be destroyed in a dignified way, preferably by burning.
9. Conduct during hoisting, lowering or passing of flag
During the ceremony of hoisting or lowering the flag or when the flag is passing in a parade or in review, 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. All other persons present should face the flag and stand at attention with their right hand over the heart, or if applicable, remove their headdress with their right hand and hold it at the left shoulder, the hand being over the heart. Citizens of other countries present should stand at attention. All such conduct toward the flag in a moving column should be rendered at the moment the flag passes.