Return to Transcripts main page
CNN Live Today
Old Glory Etiquette
Aired July 04, 2002 - 10:34 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
DARYN KAGAN, CNN ANCHOR: A lot of people, since 9/11, have been flying the flag and doing it proudly. But they might be unaware that there are rules on how to fly it and how to fly it correctly.
And with a look at that, we're joined by Richard Santos. He is the national commander of the American Legion, the nation's largest veterans organization.
Good morning to you, sir. Happy Independence Day to you.
RICHARD SANTOS, NATIONAL COMMANDER, AMERICAN LEGION: Good morning to you.
KAGAN: We've gone right to the source to make sure that we do it right with the flag.
No. 1 faux pas that you see people doing with the flag as they fly it outside their home?
SANTOS: They fail to illuminate it at night. We encourage...
KAGAN: Ah.
SANTOS: That's the most pronounced error that I see. People are trying to be very patriotic, but they fail to illuminate the flag at night in front of their home. That's about the biggest error that I see.
KAGAN: What about in the rain and in the weather? Are you supposed to bring it in Then?
SANTOS: It is recommended, if you have a flag being flown during inclement weather, that it should be an all-weather flag.
KAGAN: Which means what?
SANTOS: That way, colors will not run. The material that it's made out of will prevent the colors from running from rain, snow or sleet. So, therefore, if you do fly a flag during inclement weather, make sure it's an all-weather flag, one that will handle the elements of weather.
KAGAN: One more question about lighting it up, because I have this issue at my house here. Does that mean that there should be a light, like a spotlight right on the flag? Or it OK if it's just in a lit-up area?
SANTOS: The illumination should make it obvious to a passerby or the common, casual observer that they can see the flag. It doesn't have to be a direct spotlight.
KAGAN: Got it.
SANTOS: But good illumination for the average person going by can notice it.
KAGAN: OK, then I think I'm covered on that. I feel a little better about that point right there.
Some folks aren't just flying it outside their house on a flagpole, but they want it up in their window. Or you see them on cars, the side of cars. Is there a certain etiquette that goes with that, if the flag is not just from a regular staff?
SANTOS: That's correct.
If it's being held against a wall or through a window, the union, which is the blue section or blue field, should be to the observers' upper left at all times. Whether it's being flown horizontally or held horizontally or held vertically, the blue or the union field should be to observers' left.
KAGAN: And then, finally, since people have been flying flags since 9/11, and we're coming up on a year, that means some of those flags out there are getting kind of beat up and some people might want to get a new, fresh flag out there. What is the proper thing to do when you have a flag that is ready to be retired? What are you supposed to do with it?
SANTOS: We in the American Legion do special flag-disposal ceremonies, where flags are properly disposed of through a special ceremony honoring the flag, what it stands for, and what it has stood for during its normal life. We encourage the general public to contact their local veterans organizations, such as the American Legion, to collect those flags, to properly hold on to them until a flag-disposal ceremony can be held.
KAGAN: That is a great tip. I think you taught some people out there, you taught them something today.
Richard Santos, with the American Legion, thank you so much. A happy holiday to you, and enjoy the rest of the day.
SANTOS: Same to you. And thank you again.
KAGAN: Very much appreciated.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
