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Upside down flag is distress signal MARGA KELLOGG
Staff
Writer
OCEANSIDE ---- In the wake of the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks in New
York and Washington, D.C., Vietnam veteran Dana Rickard began flying his
flag upside down, a move which he said caused him to be harassed by some
people.
Rickard said flying the flag upside down is a standard military
distress signal and was never intended to be disrepectful.
"It means we need some help here. That's American heritage, it has
nothing to do with saying anything bad about the flag," said Rickard, an
Oceanside resident.
The United States Flag Code supports Richard's statement.
The code formalizes and unifies the traditional ways in which we give
respect to the flag and includes the following:
The flag should never be dipped to any person or thing. It is flown
upside down only as a distress signal.
The flag should not be used as a drapery, or for covering a speakers
desk, draping a platform, or for any decoration in general. Bunting of
blue, white and red stripes is available for these purposes. The blue
stripe of the bunting should be on the top.
The flag should never be used for any advertising purpose. It should
not be embroidered, printed or otherwise impressed on such articles as
cushions, handkerchiefs, napkins, boxes, or anything intended to be
discarded after temporary use. Advertising signs should not be attached to
the staff or halyard.
The flag should not be used as part of a costume or athletic uniform,
except that a flag patch may be used on the uniform of military personnel,
fireman, policeman and members of patriotic organizations.
The flag should never have placed on it, or attached to it, any mark,
insignia, letter, word, number, figure, or drawing of any kind.
The flag should never be used as a receptacle for receiving, holding,
carrying, or delivering anything.
9/28/01
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