Evening star., 1940-11-17


Study of Flag Code
Is Illuminating Reading.
To many inquirers, Mrs. Leetch ,
which many patriotic societies DIST
work of a committee.
Neither the Federal Government
nor the States have laws governing
the correct display of the flag" she
declared, but most of the States
and the District of Columbia pro-
vide fines and imprisonment for flag
desecration."
The Flag Code. it was explained,
was formulated in Washington in
h924 and is based on the rules OF
heraldry, Army and Navy custom
and the common sense of according
a deferential courtesy and place OF
honor to the visual symbol OF the
living Nation.
Mrs. Leetch declared there are
many times when common sense
and good judgment must govern
Situations when the flag is displayed.
T am quite convinced that Mr..
Average Citizen intends respect at
All times-he only slips up through
thoughtlessness or ignorance" she
Added.
As an illustration of this point, !
Mrs. Leetch remarked that flag
CONSCIOUS Americans often are 1rked
hat men do not rise and salue every
lag that passes in parade. Often
he flags are at such short intervals
hat the act would be tiresome, she
declared. "It seems quite as much
mark of respect if the individual,
Without rising, removes his hat and
places it at the left shoulder as
zach flag passes"
Costume Jewelry Flag
Has Its Proper Place.
Of wearing the flag in the form
# costume jewelry, Mrs. Leetch de-
Jared: "Show you colors' is an
xcellent slogan and we hope 1t Will
hot prove to be just fad. But
he flag pin should be worn always
ver the left breast and above any
ther ornament or badge. Never
sc it as a dress fastener"
Most young people know more OF
he answers to the correct use OF
he flag than their elders, Mrs.
.eetch has found.
boy and Girl Scouts are very
Helpful and interested" she said
The girls do not embroider the
lag on cushions, nor use paper nap
kins or boxes imprinted with the
lag. The boys do not nail 1t to
nything. They carry the flag alott
nd free. to the right of their troop
ag. Nor do they drape the flag
use it as bunting for decoration"
Mrs. Leetch often plays a flag
anne quiz with Girl Scouts, which
fun and informative. too. WED
ke to get more grownups to play,
he remarked.
Young people frequently report
Incorrect display of the flag. and
drs. Leetch says you'd be surprised
ow observing they are.
Asked if offenders object to cor
ection. Mrs. Leetch replied; TACT
IL correction never offends. Most
hy. I didn't know it mattered and
m glad you told me-
ONE Contest Advice
nd Code Proves Handy.
Sometimes an individual thinks he
nows better, however, and calls for
roof, so it is well to go armed Win
flag code. Mrs. Leetch observed.
Those who live in the Nations
apital should be particularly care
ii in the display OF flags, Mrs
eetch believes. "Visitors who fire.
1ent our city in great numbers all
he time will go home and say, I
Aw it done this way in Washington.
must be right" she pointed out.
unfortunately" she continued,
that is no criterion. We often Of
md. too, by displaying tattered and
brn flags, for which there seems to
little excuse. Flags may be dry
leaned or washed, preferably IN
rivate. and certainly may be
lended.
"Visitors frequently ask about the
,ur American flags flown on the
apitol Building" Mrs. Leetch con.
nued. Those on the west and
hst fronts are flown daily, "a hours,
neither or not Congress is in ses-
/ on" she explained. THE flags on
! he Senate and House wings indl-
ate the status of Congress. II Con-
tess has adjourned they are not
own, and if Congress is merely IN
Ecess the flags are flown day and
ght until members come back into
ession. When Congress is IN ses-
on, the flags are stated at the
bur the respective houses convene
I'D lowered when they adjourn Tor
be day.
Thite House Flag Tells
President Is There.
"The flag over the White House
flown from sunrise to sunset when
he President is in residence. So at
glance. one may know whether
not the President is at home"
Asked if it we're correct for
hndidate for Office to use the Amer
IAN flag in connection with his
Ampaign, Mrs. Leetch declared:
For long time they have done so.
here is no objection, unless a pic
IRE of the candidate or his slogan
ere to be placed on or above the
ag."