Avenue of flags welcomes memorial

Flags are being flown throughout Washington today to honor a special visit. The traveling Vietnam War Memorial known as ?The Wall that Heals? arrived in the town today at 11:45 a.m., greeted by dozens of flags along East Washington Street. The Washington Optimists Club handed out flags to people who welcomed the memorial?s arrival.

The Optimists routinely display 115 American flags in town as part of a fundraiser called ?Avenue of the Flags.? The club puts up the flags on East Washington Street, West Washington Street, South Iowa Avenue and around the United Presbyterian Home cottages.

The club puts up the flags five times a year for the five flag-related holidays, which are Memorial Day, Independence Day, Veterans Day, Labor Day and, of course, Flag Day. The Optimists put the flags up today for the arrival of the memorial and will leave them up for Flag Day, which is Thursday.

The Optimists realized they would have 91 leftover flags after installing the ones that go on the streets, and decided to incorporate them into the recognition ceremony to show their respects to the traveling memorial.

Optimist Tim Zear said he was excited when he learned the traveling Vietnam Wall would come to Washington.

?I think it?s a big deal, and I?m anxious to visit it myself,? he said.

Zear said the Optimists follow flag etiquette such as not putting the flags out if it?s raining. He said the club has discussed whether it should leave the flags up for multiple days on long weekends such as Memorial Day and Labor Day, although the flag code suggests that is improper if the flags are not illuminated overnight.

Section 6(a) of the flag code states, ?It is the universal custom to display the flag only from sunrise to sunset on buildings and on stationary flag staffs in the open. However, when a patriotic effect is desired, the flag may be displayed twenty-four hours a day if properly illuminated during the hours of darkness.?

The flag code was created at the National Flag Conference in 1923. The U.S. Congress gave it official sanction in 1942, according to the Web site of the American Legion. The flag code is a list of recommendations about displaying the flag and is not enforceable by law.

Zear said the section of the flag code pertaining to overnight illumination has generated the most attention of any part of the code, since it can be difficult to properly illuminate the flag for 24 hours.

?I realize it?s hard for people to follow some of that,? he said. ?For some people, it becomes a choice between not flying the flag at all or flying it without exactly following the etiquette.?

Zear said it is important to treat the flag properly because it is the national emblem of the United States of America.

?They set up flag etiquette for a reason,? he said. ?The flag stands for pride in what we were founded on. In recent history, it has become a symbol of people who serve in the military. That definitely gives it extra meaning. Today, with this wall coming to town, I think of those people who served during Vietnam and about how poorly they were treated.?

The American Legion?s Web site lists a few common misunderstandings about flag etiquette. One of those is about who can order a flag to be flown at half-staff. The flag code states that this privilege is reserved for the President of the United States and the state governors.

The Web site says another popular myth is that the flag code prohibits the display of flags with fewer than 50 stars. According to the U.S. Army Institute of Heraldry, the United States flag never becomes obsolete. Any officially approved American flag, irrespective of the number or arrangement of the stars and/or stripes may continue to be used and displayed until no longer serviceable.

Other misconceptions about the flag code include what to do with the flag after it touches the ground and whether or not it can be washed. The flag code states that the flag should not be allowed to touch the ground. However, the flag can still be used if it touches the ground and does not need to be destroyed. There is no prohibition on washing the flag.

The code states that the flag should never be dipped to any person or thing and should only be flown upside down as a distress signal. The flag should also not be used for any advertising purposes and should not be printed or impressed on articles such as cushions, handkerchiefs, napkins, boxes or anything intended to be discarded after temporary use.