The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1921-07-04
TOPEKA STATE JOURNAL
Information Bureau
FREDERIC j. HAsKN, Director.
Washington, D. C.
REspECT THE FLAG.

ture flag on your person, be sure you
know the rules before you go ahead.
Every patriotic society in the country
! hasa Jealous eye on the National
Flag to see that it gets the full meas
ure of respect on all occasions. The
fact that you do not pretend to be
an expert on flag etiquette will not
save you from being regarded as an
American of doubtful pedigree if you
inadvertently display the flag with the
stars in the wrong corner.
Not SO many years ago the flag was
treated with enthusiastic but misguid-
/ ed familiarity. On any occasion when
| the American Revolution or the re-
public were apt to be mentioned a
hall was decked out in flags. They
were looped and twirled and fastened
into rosettes. They were nailed to
chandeliers and ratings, and if cor
ner of a flag here and there trafled
| on the floor no one thought anything
of it.
A large bunting flag was regarded
as the most appropriate covering for
the speakers desk. The gavel was
laid on the flag, and if the chairman
found it necessary to rap for order
there was no alternative but to bang
on the patriotic table cover. A pitcher
of ice water. set by the gavel. general
ly completed the setting for rousing
meeting.
The piece de resistance of the pa
| triotic evening was generally a solo
dance by some star pupil of a dancing
school, in which the performer APP
peared in a costume made out of
flag. or put together to resemble a
flag. The dance usually began with
Hail Columbia" and progressed thru
a list Of patriotic songs to THE Star
Spangled Banner as climax.
But all that is over. For some years,
! the flag has been under the protection
of nobody knows how many members
of all the patriotic societies. History
and heraldry have been tapped to
ascertain the exact etiquette suitable
on every possible occasion at which
the national emblem appears.
Points to Remember.
1t has been discovered that when
the flag is used to decorate a room
or building it should always be hung
in straight lines, never draped nor
twisted. 1t should not be nailed but
hung by loops or thru rings in the
binding.
If it is used to cover a pulpit or
desk nothing should be placed on top
of it unless it is a Bible. 1t must
never in any circumstances be allowed
to touch the floor for fear some one
might step on it
If it is hung as q banner-that is,
with the stripes horizontal, as we
| usually see them-the field of stars,
or union, should be in the upper left
hand corner. If it is hung on end,
stripes running up and down, the
union should be in the upper right
hand corner.
If these rules are followed, flag deco
rations are sanctioned by patriotic ex-
perts. Some of the patriotic societies,
| however, hold that it is really more
desirable to use bunting in decorating
the walls of a room. Red, white and
4 IL 4 Elef
| tooned in almost any way desired.
| The only technical point in using
bunting is that it has top and bot
| tom. Unfortunately for the bewildereo
flag hanger, the experts do not agree
as to which is the top side of bunting.
Four years ago deputy quartermas-
| ter general decreed that the, proper
order, for good taste, is red, white and
| blue-red at the top. This, he said,
was in accordance with the heraldic
colors of the flag, which always are
read in the order he named.
| Another authority differs. He main
tains as firmly that bunting should be
hung with the blue at the top, follow
ed by white and then red, so as to fol-
| low strictly the rules of heraldry as
they are shown in our shield. The
| shield you may remember, has blue
| field. at the top, and below that the
| white and red stripes. AS there is a
| disa greement over this, and as bunt-
ing, after all, is not the flag, this is not
so important as some other points OF
flag etiquette.
1t is more important, for instance,
to remember that flag worn on the
coat lapel should always be worn on
the left side. 1t should be small and
! there should never be any button or
other decoration worn above it.
1t is also important to know that
when the flag passes, a civilian should
hi h. hn1d in his r-feT n
| hand across his left shoulder. This
movement, if properly executed, is in
| tended to bring the hat over the heart
Any one is expected to stand when
the flag passes or is raised or lowered
| on a staff.
Show Your Respect.
There is a significance back of all
! the various observances. Persona
stand to show respect, and the flag is
entitled to this respect because it is
| the symbol of the nation. As the
symbol of the United States, the Stars
and Stripes should always be treated
with veneration. That is why a Law
prevents the use of the flag or the ma
tional shield as a trade mark. 1t Il
not thought fitting that our national
banner should be a common reminder
of knives, hats, or other articles.
There is a strong sentiment against
the use of the flag as a costume, oil
part of costume. 1t is also consid.
cred improper to use the flag as q
background for pictures of any kind
as for example the portraits of tbs
president and vice president, or George
| Washington, or the national capitol
In time of war. we became used tt
seeing the flag flying at night, as thiI
was permitted by a war department
ruling. But now. even tho this coun.
try has never formally concluded it,
peace negotiations, there is no reason
for the flag to be left flying in bat
weather or after sunset.
People have accepted the idea thai
the flag is to be handled carefully and
/ respectfully at all times. But persona
judgment as to what is respectful
treatment cannot always be RELIEF
upon. One person will hang out al
old tattered flag on patriotic days
feeling that its dinginess suggests long
service.
| Nax,a. V-So mr., IYa-