FLAG FOUND FLYING UPSIDE DOWN

An alert Elyria Police Officer on patrol this afternoon noticed that the American Flag flying at West Park on Lowell Street had been altered. Someone had lowered the Flag and turned it upside down then raised it back up the pole. Police notified the Elyria Parks Department to send staff to West Park to correct the problem.

Proper American Flag etiquette says that the flag should only be flown upside down as a distress signal. When looking up the proper etiquette for flying the American Flag we noticed something interesting that retailers should take note of:

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.

Darell Bishop, former Commander of the American Legion, Elyria Post 12, says that this sounds like a kid or kids playing around not knowing what it means when an American Flag is flown upside down. Bishop says that there are books for people to read explaining proper American Flag etiquette. If you are not a book person you can always visit www.usflag.org

Bishop wanted people to know that if anyone has a Flag that they need destroyed because of it being distressed or damaged, they can always bring it to the American Legion located at Gulf Road & Ohio Street. “We have a large mailbox painted red, white and blue, for people to drop their flags off in. Then usually once a year around Flag Day we will hold a dignified Flag Disposal Ceremony.”