Fly it proudly, but fly it correctly

U.S. athlete during an international sporting event, I'll watchintently to make sure they keep it off the ground at all times.And, when that athlete invariably wraps the flag around their bodyas if it were a shawl, it makes me uncomfortable.
It's the same feeling I get when I see a flag sewn onto somebody'sshirt or pants or draped over a table. Even though I believe mostof these people are intending to show patriotism, it comes off tome as disrespectful.
Usually, I'm not real big on symbolism. I wrote a column a whileback stating that the Pledge of Allegiance strikes me as agovernment-mandated loyalty pledge, and kind of gives me thewillies. And, I was truly ashamed the other night to come to thesad realization that I can more readily recite the words to theFreeCreditReport.com jingle than the National Anthem.
But when it comes to the flag, I just think if somebody is going totake the time and effort to fly it, they should do it the rightway. Here are a few of the basics, as listed in The Flag Code:
• When a flag is so worn it is no longer "fit to serve as asymbol of our country," it should be destroyed by burning in adignified manner. Many American Legion posts conduct flag-burningceremonies, often on Flag Day.
• When a flag is lowered, no part of it should touch theground or any other object.
• The flag should not be draped from a platform or used tocover a speaker's desk.
• Ordinarily it should be displayed only between sunrise andsunset. It should be illuminated if displayed at night.
• When flown with other flags, the U.S. flag should "alwaysplaced in the position of honor — to its own right." Otherflags can be smaller, but none larger, and none higher.
A complete list of the do's and don'ts when flying the flag isavailable at www.usflag.org.
Walt Rubel has been a newsman for more than 25 years and ismanaging editor of the Sun-News. He can be reached at wrubel@lcsun-news.com .