A tutorial for Flag City

Fifty years after Findlay was officially declared "Flag City, U.S.A.," some locals seem to have traded in reverence for indifference. On any given day a casual observer driving through the Findlay area can see U.S. flags flying in rain or bad weather or others unilluminated in darkness. Even faded, old, ratty flags are sometimes on display. It's not a good look anywhere. But it is most unbecoming in the town that was declared on May 7, 1974 by U.S. House of Representatives Joint Resolution #1003, "Flag City, U.S.A." The resolution was introduced by U.S. Rep. Tennyson Guyer, R-Findlay, responding to a yearslong grassroots movement for widespread display of the flag throughout Findlay. Some guidelines for proper flag display: • Tradition calls for displaying the flag in public only from sunrise to sunset. However, it may be displayed at all times if it is illuminated during darkness, the U.S. Veterans Affairs Department reports. • "The flag should not be subject to weather damage, so it should not be displayed during rain, snow and wind storms unless it is an all-weather flag," the Veterans Affairs Department states. The flag should never be fastened or displayed in a way that would allow it to be damaged or soiled. • Clean and damage-free flags should be used. Dirty, ripped, wrinkled or frayed flags should not be used, the U.S. Defense Department reports. When flags are damaged, worn out or otherwise unfit for display, they should be destroyed in a dignified manner. Damaged or worn-out flags are accepted by Hancock County Veterans Service Office; and the VFW, AMVETS and the American Legion, Disabled American Veterans posts and Boy Scouts of America. (Contact information on the groups is below). The flags are then given to Boy Scouts of America to conduct flag retirement ceremonies. • The flag should never touch anything beneath it — this includes water, merchandise, floor or ground, the U.S. Defense Department reports. • When displayed either horizontally or vertically against a wall, or suspended other than from a staff, the flag's union, or blue field, should be uppermost and to the flag's own right, that is, to the observer's left. When displayed in a window, the flag should be displayed in the same way, with the union or blue field to the left of the observer in the street. The flag in these instances should be displayed flat or suspended so that its folds fall free. • Never display the flag with the union, or blue field down, except as a signal of distress, the Veterans Affairs Department reports. • Clamping a U.S. flag to a vehicle's antenna is acceptable, or the flagstaff clamped to the right fender, as long as the flag displays in the proper direction. • When displaying the U.S. flag with other flags, the U.S. flag comes first and is centered in the middle of a flag display. In addition, the U.S. flag must be placed higher than the other flags, unless other national flags are present. In that case the U.S. flag would be the same height. • Buntings are a good way to display the national colors and decorate for Independence Day without discrediting the U.S. flag. Disposal help The following groups collect damaged or worn-out flags for proper disposal: • Ralph D. Cole American Legion Post 3, 120 W. Front St., 419-422-0552; email: clark.lamme@gmail.com • VFW Post 5645, 315 Walnut St., 419-423-0023; email: d24rhodes.dr@gmail.com • AMVETS Post 21, 423 Trenton Ave., 419-422-5190; email: amvet21@att.net • Disabled American Veterans, 606 Fishlock Ave., 419-721-7275; email: findlaybj@gmail.com • Hancock County Veterans Service Office, 1100 E. Main Cross St., Suite 123, 419-424-7036; email: veterans@co.hancock.oh.us • Boy Scouts – Black Swamp Area Council, 2100 Broad Ave., 419-422-4356. • VFW Post 9231, P.O. Box 219, McComb, 419-293-2266; email: tfwildfire@yahoo.com • The American Legion Mulford Butler Post 511, P.O. Box 489, McComb, 419-421-1103; email: hiawatha2@aol.com