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About Cottage Grove sentinel. (Cottage Grove, Or.) 1909-current | View Entire Issue (June 12, 2019)
2 | FLAG DAY 2019 | COTTAGE GROVE SENTINEL Flying the Flag at Night A ccording to the United States Flag Code, American fl ags should be fl own from sunrise to sunset. Lower- ing the banner at night is considered another way to show our utmost respect to the symbol and those who served. However, with enough illumination, it is perfectly accept- able to represent your patriotism throughout the night. The fl ag may be displayed 24 hours a day if well lit during the hours of darkness. The Congressional Re- search Service reports that the dignity accorded to the banner is preserved by lighting that prevents its being enveloped in darkness. If you feel your fl ag should wave during nighttime hours, it’s important to have a suffi cient light source to display its recognizable stars and stripes. Here are some ideas to consider when creating a patriotic display. Create a Light Source If you’re fl agpole is not around an electrical source, you have a few different options to provide light. Remember your budget when you decide which avenue is the best for your yard. • Extension cord: One way to achieve a beam of light is investing in a light bulb rated for outdoor use. Check your local hardware store for a spike-mounted beam so you can easily transport it out of your way during day- time hours. You also could choose a heavy-duty exten- sion cord designed to handle the electricity required for extended periods of time. • Outdoor outlet: If you would rather have a permanent light fi xture in your yard to display Old Glory, assistance from a licensed electrician is a must. They can tap into your home’s current electrical source and install an ap- proved outdoor outlet. • Solar lights: Modern solar power is incredibly effi cient as a light source; just be sure it has the power and dura- bility to maintain its shine overnight. All-Weather Flag If you intend to wave your fl ag 24 hours, it’s crucial to have a banner that can withstand the extended use and inclement-outdoor elements. According to the U.S. Flag Code, “The fl ag should not be displayed on days when the weather is inclement, except when an all-weather fl ag is displayed.” An all-weather fl ag provides you with a banner that is made of high-quality materials while being able to fl ow in the breeze. During your search, look for fl ags made from a nylon material for extra-long use or heavyweight cotton to maintain a traditional appearance while boosting durabil- ity. Respect for the Flag Oh Say, Can You See? On Sept.14, 1814, amateur poet and attor- ney Francis Scott Key watched members of the U.S. military raise the American fl ag over the British bombardment of Baltimore’s Fort McHenry during the War of 1812. He was inspired to capture the moment in verse. He penned “The Star-Spangled Banner” while he was detained on a ship by the British during the bombardment of the fort. According to the Library of Congress, Key’s song wasn’t declared the offi cial national anthem until 1931 during Wood- row Wilson’s presidency. The song carried a strong sense of American pride long before it was offi cially recognized. The Flag Code was adopted to protect our nation’s symbol of freedom and accom- plishment of those who have served. If you are unfamiliar with the rules of the banner, it’s possible to be unintentionally disrespectful. Learn the basics from Chapter 4 U.S.C 8, to understand how to honor the fl ag, per the Government Publishing Offi ce. • The fl ag should never be displayed with the union down, except as a signal of dire distress in instances of extreme danger to life or property. • The fl ag should never touch anything beneath it, such as the ground, the fl oor, water or merchandise. • The fl ag should never be carried fl at or horizontally, but always aloft and free. • The fl ag should never be used as wear- ing apparel, bedding or drapery. • The fl ag should never be fastened, displayed, used or stored in such a manner as to permit it to be easily torn, soiled or damaged in any way. • The fl ag should never be used as a cov- ering for a ceiling. • The fl ag should never have placed upon it, nor on any part of it, nor attached to it any mark, insignia, word, fi gure, design, picture or any drawing of any nature. • The fl ag should never be used as a receptacle for receiving, holding, carrying or delivering anything. • The fl ag should never be used for adver- tising purposes in any manner whatsoever. It should not be embroidered on such articles as cushions or handkerchiefs and the like. • No part of the fl ag should ever be used as a costume or athletic uniform. Howev- er, a patch may be affi xed to the uniform of military personnel, fi remen, policemen and members of patriotic organizations. • The fl ag, when it is in such condition that it is no longer a fi tting emblem for display, should be destroyed in a dignifi ed way, preferably by burning. A Familiar Melody While “The Star-Spangled Banner” represents great emotion, the melody was borrowed from a song written by a group in London in the mid-1760s. The Ana- creontic Society was a group of amateur musi- cians that hired a composer named John Stafford Smith to create music written for the group’s pres- ident. The tune “To Anacreon in Heaven” was meant to give the society a song to showcase their amateur singers and an excel- lent vocal range for those more accomplished. Once the melody made its way to North America, it was borrowed to create the campaign song for John Adams’ campaign. History in Sports The anthem, fl ag and American sports have a long and meaningful relationship. It was Sept. 5, 1918, during the fi rst game of the World Series between the Boston Red Sox and Chicago Cubs when the tradition of playing the song during sporting events began. The country was in the midst of World War I and Chicago suffered a bombing only a day earlier. The mood was somber. During the seventh-inning stretch, the United States Navy band played “The Star-Spangled Banner” everyone sang along. The sense of much-needed unity was so powerful that baseball stadiums began incorporating the anthem as a part of the game. Celebrating Flag Day “The fl ag of the United States be 13 alternate stripes red and white, that the Union be 13 stars, white in a blue fi eld, representing a new Constellation.” This resolution by John Adams was adopted by the Continental Congress on June 14, 1777, placing our nation’s banner in the spotlight as a respected symbol. As new states gained independence and entered the United States, the number of stars and stripes increased. However, in 1818, Congress enacted a law to restore the original 13 stripes and only include additional stars to symbolize incoming states. A century after enacting the Flag Resolution, the fi rst Flag Day was ob- served on June 14, 1877. While Woodrow Wilson proclaimed a day of recognition for the banner in 1916, it wasn’t until 1949 when regulators offi - cially designated June 14 as Flag Day, a national day of observance. Do you know how you are going to celebrate this year? Consider sharing the occasion with your peers and loved ones. In the Community June 14 is a day to celebrate the historic symbolism of our nation’s banner. You can do your part by donating your time or resources to benefi t the occasion. Reach out to local leaders to inquire about volunteering to help raise fl ags throughout your community. Many businesses and public parks in your area may need help acquiring and displaying the banner. You also can offer to donate fl ags to ensure there are enough throughout the area. Consider hosting a community event inviting peers and neighbors to celebrate the day. Make it an event where others refl ect on what the fl ag means to them and praise the active or retired service people in their lives. In the Classroom If you are an educator, Flag Day is an awesome opportunity to teach your stu- dents about their responsibility to respect the symbol. Take the following ideas from the National Education Association when developing a positive lesson plan. • History of Flag Day: Discuss the origins and importance of the holiday. • Changes to the fl ag: The banner hasn’t always appeared the same, its history is an interesting and entertaining story to show students how the country has evolved; and • Overview of the War of 1812: Explain how the signifi cance of this confl ict had in shaping the Star-Spangled Banner and its connection to the fl ag. 2795 Mosby Creek Rd 541-942-0168 www.starfirelumber.com Save Money. Save Lives. GROUND AMBULANCE MEMBERSHIP • $65 per year GROUND AMBULANCE & AIR MEMBERSHIP • $115 per year Cottage Grove/Creswell Lorane/Dorena 541-942-4493 YOU’RE COVERED
