Does anyone honor our flag anymore?

[Laz]

While I had a great time at DLR last week, I noticed something very sad. As my adult daughter and I were walking up Main Street, we had the privilege of watching the Air Force Honor Guard march by with the US flag. My Daughter and I put our hands to our hearts. but when I looked around, only a few people gave the flag its proper honor. Hats on remained on the heads of men, and barely anyone had raised their arms in salute. This was July 3rd with many on vacation for Independence Day!

Please take a moment remember the reason for the holiday. Please remember what that flag represents and give it proper honor.

 

[lorijohnhill]

I don't think that respect for the flag, and what it represents, are being taught as much now as it was when I was a child. A lot of respectful attitudes have been lost in our society.

It is also important to note, though, that many of the visitors to Disneyland are not American and have no need to salute the flag.

 

[FryingPansWhoKnew]

Was it passing in a parade or some sort of processional or were they simply walking by with it? Either way, I think the important thing to remember is that the flag code is rather extensive and I see violations of it all the time. I think the most common one I see is when the flag is displayed on a wall hanging downwards. Quite often I see this displayed with stars to the right as if the flag was simply rotated 90 degree clockwise.

Even when the pledge of allegiance is recited or the national anthem played or sung, I see many people not performing the appropriate salute or address.

The flag code is lengthy and it's possible though that many don't have it committed to memory. The US has a much stricter flag code than most other countries.

 

[ParkHopper1]

Just to clarify, it is indeed proper to hang a flag on a wall in both horizontal and a vertical orientation hanging downward...but you are correct, in either orientation the star field should be in the top left. You may have meant
that but the way you wrote it could imply that the vertical orientation is the violation.

Flag code link and FAQ's for anyone interested:

http://www.senate.gov/reference/resources/pdf/RL30243.pdf

 

[NannyBeBe]

My father fought in the battles of Luzon and Leyte in the Philippines. Seeing the flag in their midst gave them hope. I get very upset when I see anyone showing disrespect or neglect of our flag. I remember being somewhere once where the flag was being used as a tablecloth. I was appalled and asked them to please remove it, which they did. The best way to foster proper respect is to demonstrate it ourselves.

 

[BadPinkTink]

It is also important to note, though, that many of the visitors to Disneyland are not American and have no need to salute the flag.

THIS
Disneyland is an international park, not solely visited by Americans. While I respect that I am visiting a different country, I do not know or have the same traditions regarding the flag of my country. It is very unreasonable to think that just because people don't acknowledge the flag ceremony that they are disrespecting your flag.

 

[Lisaloo]

My dad served 30 years US Army. I am a patriot through and through. BUT I did the same thing one year without even knowing. I was not aware of the flag retreat ceremony and we walked right through it, ball caps on and chitchatting with no idea of what it was until we were past it. Ours was definitely not a case of disrespect, just chaos.

 

[Laz]

Was it passing in a parade or some sort of processional or were they simply walking by with it? Either way, I think the important thing to remember is that the flag code is rather extensive and I see violations of it all the time. I think the most common one I see is when the flag is displayed on a wall hanging downwards. Quite often I see this displayed with stars to the right as if the flag was simply rotated 90 degree clockwise.

Even when the pledge of allegiance is recited or the national anthem played or sung, I see many people not performing the appropriate salute or address.

The flag code is lengthy and it's possible though that many don't have it committed to memory. The US has a much stricter flag code than most other countries.

This was the 16 man AF Honor guard that was at DCA and DL over the holidays:

http://www.ocregister.com/articles/air-669993-force-disney.html

They marched by my position up Main street with the flag held high, just like the beginning of the video clip. That is all anyone needs to know to give proper honor. I always think of all my relatives, friends and former students that served so proudly under that flag. I am not trying to scold anyone. I understand that people may be busy with much on their mind. However, when they stop all pedestrian traffic and march by with a drum beat cadence, one can not help but stop and take notice. I also understand an international crowd is present, but we could not be the only US citizens in that crowd. I guess it is the way I was brought up and the way I raised my daughter.

 

[22Tink]

It is also important to note, though, that many of the visitors to Disneyland are not American and have no need to salute the flag.

Yes, very true. I'm not American, so why would I salute the American flag? I'm Canadian, and I would not expect to see visitors from other countries salute our flag while in Canada. It isn't disrespectful, just as I don't mean any disrespect if I don't salute the American flag when visiting the U.S. It's just not my flag to salute.

 

[BadPinkTink]

@Laz Thats great that you as an American have traditions connected to YOUR flag, but not everyone at Disney is American and those of us from all over the world who visit Disney do not have those traditions associated to our country's flag. Just because something happens in America does not mean that it happens in other countries. The world is bigger than just America, and it is very wrong of you to judge people in Disneyland because in your eyes, their disrespected YOUR flag.

 

[offwithyourhead]

Disneyland is a massive mixing pot of people from literally everywhere. I saw something going on on our trip but since I'm Canadian I had no idea what to do, so we just watched. I'd rather watch quietly than do something that was accidentally disrespectful.

 

[chickapin parterre]

Independence day is the birth of a nation and not a veteran memorial. If it where a veteran memorial there would an immediate cessation to fireworks.

you only headgear salute when in uniform, the hat of American legion and VFW is a uniform and therefore those folks can salute wearing their headgear only

hand to the left is the proper non uniform salute.

It was not posted colors. Posted colors require more adherence to honor then marching colors. On military post so extreme is flag etiquette , that at a set clock time all cars stop, folks exit the car, perform the proper salute. And everyone walking would come to a stop and face the posted colors, even though other colors where on the post. Even the transit bus stopped and the highest ranking solider exited the bus and saluted if in uniform.

When at Disneyland, I find that most folks stop at the flag lowering or take direction to stop.

I don't remember 4th of July honor guard at our post, though we did have them for the honor holidays ceremonies on post.

But the biggest cause of accidental disrespect is that it is not taught nor ceremoniously (scouting as an example) engaged by a majority of citizens. If I had not spent time in uniform I would have never learned of the etiquette

One important background aspect about Walt Disney is that he had great respect for the American flag. Check out the Marcelline flag post.

 

[VandVsmama]

Sometimes it takes a village for children to learn about this sort of thing. For example, our kids are on a swim team. At the beginning of every swim meet, somebody sings the national anthem. The announcer usually gives everyone a reminder to remove their hats, stand up, no talking, and put your hand on your heart. At the most recent meet, a bunch of the kids on our team were being very loud and rowdy and disrespectful. A bunch of the parents kept giving the kids dirty looks but nobody said anything. I snapped at them with "Hey! Zip it! It's the national anthem! Stand up and be quiet and show some respect!"

Some of the other kids on our team were singing right along, though, and belting out the anthem with their hands on their hearts.

 

[FryingPansWhoKnew]

You may have meant
that but the way you wrote it could imply that the vertical orientation is the violation.

Yep, I meant it "stars left every time" whether vertical or horizontal. I saw it hanging vertically-stars right in a high school gym recently.

Of course there are lots of individuals not from the US at Disneyland. I would hope that no one has an expectation that people from other countries would participate in the same way.

That being said, if I were in Denmark and I saw Danish troops marching a Danish flag down the street to honor a Danish holiday, I think I would pause and respectfully watch in silence. I don't think a gesture of respect for another country's flag diminishes my own reverence for mine. I, however, have no expectation for people visiting Disneyland mainly because there is so much going on, it's sometimes hard to even notice something like this happening.

 

[FryingPansWhoKnew]

Yes, very true. I'm not American, so why would I salute the American flag? I'm Canadian, and I would not expect to see visitors from other countries salute our flag while in Canada. It isn't disrespectful, just as I don't mean any disrespect if I don't salute the American flag when visiting the U.S. It's just not my flag to salute.

It would be very strange indeed for anyone to have an expectation like that. Anyone who expects you to salute a flag that is not your own is way out of line.

Happy Canada Day to you.

 

[Laz]

I guess times have changed. Every and any event I ever attended, if a flag was paraded by you stood at attention and gave a proper salute, civilian or otherwise. When I am in a foreign country I stand and give respect to their flag that is paraded by, I just do not give the civilian salute. Am I showing my age?

 

[FryingPansWhoKnew]

I guess times have changed. Every and any event I ever attended, if a flag was paraded by you stood at attention and gave a proper salute, civilian or otherwise. When I am in a foreign country I stand and give respect to their flag that is paraded by, I just do not give the civilian salute. Am I showing my age?

At Disneyland, I think it's unrealistic to have that expectation. There's too much going on for many people to notice and many may not realize that standing and watching silently (not saluting in any way) is considered a respectful act.

 

[StormyCA]

At a sporting event I attended annually, the Canadian Snowbirds performed every few years. It was announced (and expected) that everybody in attendance would stand respectfully during the presenting of both country's colors and the playing of both country's national anthems. After a few years I even learned (and sang along) to O Canada.

I think that some people just get 'Disney Brain' in the parks and sometimes just forget to do things they'd normally do. I'd cut them some slack.

 

[beachdreamr1229]

I guess times have changed. Every and any event I ever attended, if a flag was paraded by you stood at attention and gave a proper salute, civilian or otherwise. When I am in a foreign country I stand and give respect to their flag that is paraded by, I just do not give the civilian salute. Am I showing my age?

Imagine this: You're in a country where you see their flag. You stand to give "respect" to it. And it offends someone. Why? Because that's not their custom and you're actually disrespecting their flag. Perhaps in their country, you don't stand to pay respect. But did you know that? No. You wouldn't know their customs any better than someone from another nation would know ours. Disneyland is an international tourist attraction. Not everyone knows flag etiquette for every nation. Just like you might not know that using the "okay" sign in Brazil is a rude gesture or that pointing with 1 finger is considered unacceptable in many Asian cultures. Point being, unless you can guarantee that every single person around that flag was a citizen of the United States, you can't expect them to understand our customs.

 

[GoBears 1980]

Yes, very true. I'm not American, so why would I salute the American flag? I'm Canadian, and I would not expect to see visitors from other countries salute our flag while in Canada. It isn't disrespectful, just as I don't mean any disrespect if I don't salute the American flag when visiting the U.S. It's just not my flag to salute.

There is a difference between saluting and showing respect. When I have been in Canada for events and the flag is presented I don't stay seated and keep talking to my friends just because I am not Canadian. I stand and show respect for the host country.

@Laz Thats great that you as an American have traditions connected to YOUR flag, but not everyone at Disney is American and those of us from all over the world who visit Disney do not have those traditions associated to our country's flag. Just because something happens in America does not mean that it happens in other countries. The world is bigger than just America, and it is very wrong of you to judge people in Disneyland because in your eyes, their disrespected YOUR flag.

When you are in Disneyland you are in America and common sense dictates that you show respect for the country you are in. It is very, very wrong of you to behave disrespectfully.

Sometimes it takes a village for children to learn about this sort of thing. For example, our kids are on a swim team. At the beginning of every swim meet, somebody sings the national anthem. The announcer usually gives everyone a reminder to remove their hats, stand up, no talking, and put your hand on your heart. At the most recent meet, a bunch of the kids on our team were being very loud and rowdy and disrespectful. A bunch of the parents kept giving the kids dirty looks but nobody said anything. I snapped at them with "Hey! Zip it! It's the national anthem! Stand up and be quiet and show some respect!"

Some of the other kids on our team were singing right along, though, and belting out the anthem with their hands on their hearts.

As a coach I'd have had my miscreants swimming fly until their shoulders went numb and then I'd explain why etiquette and respect are important.