THE FLAG of the United STates (Shutterstock).

You won’t often find me full of giddy enthusiasm about some of the policies and proposals of the present Huntington Beach City Council, but there’s an item on the agenda for Tuesday’s meeting of the city council that has my support and attention.

Mayor Casey McKeon is proposing to direct the staff to develop a city-sponsored “flag program policy that establishes simple, uniform guidelines that honor the U.S. Flag Code,” etc. etc.

If you look around, you will find many people – including those who claim to be patriotic – treating our nation’s banner with disrespect and/or for cynical or commercial purposes.

For example:
“the flag should never be used as wearing apparel.” Well, you can buy swimming trunks, underwear and all kinds of “Old Glory” hats.

“the flag should never used for advertising purposes in any manner whatsoever.” Drive past most car dealerships and you’ll finds forests of the Star Spangled Banners.

“the flag should never be carried flat or horizontally.” At the Black April event in Westminster a parade consisted of women dressed in flag outfits who carried the flag horizontally.”

The list goes on. Now, while the Flag Code is a federal law, you can’t be punished for not following it, any more than you can for not being nice to your mother. But if you don’t, what does that say about you as a patriot, or son or daughter?

Footnote: When the National Anthem is played, civilians are asked to stand at attention, facing the flag, with their hand over the heart. Military veterans may give a hand salute.