Violations are a misdemeanor, punishable by up to a $1,000 fine and 90 days in jail. Minnesota has passed the strongest measure, a new law that goes into effect at year's end requiring every Old Glory sold in state stores to be domestically produced. What's red, white and blue - and made in China? A move is on in state legislatures to ensure that the flags folks will be flying and buying this Independence Day were made on this fruited plain. "But it would be highly unusual for an administration not to follow it."
"The president is the ultimate authority when it comes to deciding whether to follow the Flag Code or not," said Joyce Doody, executive director of the National Flag Foundation in Pittsburgh. The law amends the Flag Code, which offers guidelines on treating the flag but does not have penalties for noncompliance. Martin O'Malley of Maryland and Tim Kaine of Virginia can order flags lowered at prominent federal sites like the National Security Agency in Fort Meade, Md., and the Pentagon in Arlington, Va. Fenty of Washington, a Democrat, has the same authority as governors, meaning that he can instruct the White House and other federal buildings in the capital to lower the flag. The differing responses set off a larger debate about whether lowering the flag for a killed soldier cheapened the tribute by carrying it out too often and whether it was a subtle antiwar gesture. Orders, they may not have received the appropriate directive from their regional offices." "While in many cases the local federal employees want to observe the governors' "This legislation will ensure consistency in how we honor fallen heroes," said Representative Bart Stupak, the Michigan Democrat who sponsored the legislation. Federal officials said they did not consider themselves under governors' jurisdiction. The bill responded to complaints from families of fallen soldiers who saw that the flag was often not lowered at federal buildings despite governors' instructions. Lowered to half-staff in honor of soldiers killed while serving, under a law President Bush signed on Friday. WASHINGTON, July 2 - All federal buildings in a state have to comply when the governor orders the American flag When States Lower Flag, Federal Buildings Have to Do So, Too - New York Times flag should never be used for advertising in any manner whatsoever." That is not usually broadly construed to bother companies that just display a single flag of normal size. When a historic flag is carried or displayed with a present-day flag, the modern flag takes precedence." These do not appear in the Flag Code nor the Executive Orders covering the flag, but they make sense.
flags are due the same honor and respect that are given today's colors. A publication sponsored by the Boy Scouts of America states "Historic U.S. The answer seems to be that only 50-star flags are "official" but it is appropriate to display earlier examples. It is appropriate for all citizens to do the same." (21 August 1959) However, it would not be improper to display the 48-star and the 49-star flag after that date with limited exceptions agencies of the Federal Government will continue to display the 48-star and the 49-star flag so long as they remain in good condition and until existing stocks of unused flags are exhausted. Display of the new flags before that time would be improper. Grimes-Wyatt, 21 February 1996Īccording to President Dwight Eisenhower's Executive Order (#10834, published 25 August, 1959) the 50-Star flag would become the "official flag of the United States on July 4, 1960." The Order also states "All national flags.now in possession of executive agencies.shall be utilized until unserviceable."Įarlier, the White House had issued the following statement to the public: "By law, the new 50-star flag will become the official flag of the United States on July 4, 1960, the birthday of the Union. flags ever used are still, as new versions have been authorized, but old versions have never been unauthorized. This is not to say that the evil of the philosophy should be ignored, or the revision of history many here would like to practice.Īll versions of the U.S.
Technically, the Nazi flag is not banned here as in Germany, and many people believe that to ignore the manifestation of symbols is better than suppressing them. The debate over this issue continues in U.S.
The very famous case of the (extremely small) Nazi party in Chicago which obtained, after long struggle and much public debate, the right to march in a suburb mainly inhabited by people of Jewish extraction and religion. Supreme Court ruled that no banning of the type like in the city of Raleigh, NC, was permissible. Restriction against flying foreign national flags without accompanying U.S.
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