The Rock Island Argus and daily union. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1920-1923, 1921-07-02
Frederic Haskin's Letter
tsreaaa cosr.spesae.@ Es
Respect the Flag.

! top, followed by white and the, :,
so as TO follow strictly the r1las !.
heraldry as they are shown in -. =
shield. The shield, you nav ~
member. has blue field at tbs &c
and below that the white and ~ ~
stripes. AS there is a oissv,a.s
ment over this. and as bunting 49,.
all, is not the nag, this is moi 81 -
| portant as some other points Of ~
etiauet- US
1t is more important, for ipss,o.
to remember that a flag worn -
+ tho coat lapel should alEaxs !.
worn on the left side. 1t sbonia -
small and there should neyes - =
any button or ether decoration worn
above it.
! 1t is also important to know tina
when the flag passes, a ciyilisn
should life his hat and hold II in s'i ~
right hand across his left sheulas-
This movement, if properly eys.
cuted, is intended TO bring The ba,
over the heart. Anyone is expeelsS
to stand when the flag passes ar Is
! raised OF lowered on a staff.
Show Your Respect.
There is a significance back q,
all the various obserVances. Per.
sons stand to show respect, and tho
flag is entitled to this respect ba.
cause it is the symbol of the ma.
ton. AS the symbol of the Unite3
States, the stars and stripes should
{ = i've
/ That is why a law prevents the use
of the flag or the national shield as
! a trade mark. 1t is not thought fit
ting that our national banner should
be a common reminder OF knives
hats or other articles.
There is strong sentiment
against the use of the nag as a COS.
tune, or part of a costume. It is
also considered improper to use thu
flag as a background fer pictures Of
any kind, as Tor example the por.
traits of the president and vice
president, or George Washington, Oh
the national capitol.
In time of war, We became used
to seeing the flag flying at night, a:
this was permitted by war depart
ment ruling. But now, even though
this country has never formally
concluded its peace negotiations
there is no reason for the flag to b.
left flying in had weather or aftel
sunset.
People have accepted the ide;
that the flag is to be handled care
fully and respectfully at all times
But personal judgment as to VIVA
is respectful treatment cannot al
ways be relied upon. One person
will hang out an old tattered flag OF
patriotic days, feeling that its ding
ness suggests long service
Never Use Torn Flag.
The patriotic societies, looking at
the matter from another angle, say
that a torn flag should never b
hoisted until it has been neatly re-
paired. A tattered flag is more H.
spring than fresh one only when
the old flag was worn out in battle
or other distinguished service. And
even such old, historic standard;
are now carefully mended to pre-
serve them, and also because not to
do so suggests neglect and The
always-to-b e-avoided disrespect
Because people do differ as to
what might be proper in handling
the national emblem, rules Of guild
ance have been laid down for prac-
tically every emergency. Those
given here cover the most usual sit
uations. They are not official rules,
backed by law. But they have al
most gained the force of law by the
eternal vigilance of the flag pro
tectionists.
There are a few laws guarding
the flag, such as the trade mark
statute, the federal law in the Dir
trict of Columbia, providing a pen
atty for its dissertations, mutiiatiea,
and improper use The majority Of
the states also have laws making II
g misdelneanOr TO place any pic
ture or inscription upon the flag
And in the army and navy strict
regulations insure veneration for
the stars and stripes.