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Don't Tread On Me

By
Real Estate Agent with The Eric Steart Group of Long & Foster Real Estate MD 586955

Don't Tread On Me

Desecrating the Flag

The American flag demands our respect. 

The greatest symbol of freedom in the world,  the flag has been flown faithfully by many generations of Americans who proudly (and humbly) display their flags in honor of what the United States represents to the world, and in honor of the men and women who have given their lives to preserve our freedom and way of life.  The American flag is to be cherished and should be treated with the utmost of care and respect. 

As a child, my father taught me how to raise and lower the flag, how to handle it, fold it, how to store it and most of all how to respect it.  As a youngster, I raised and lowered the flag every day at my high school out of respect to my father and the country he loved.  It was a duty I cherished.

Dad was a marine who fought in the South Pacific during WWII, and like many of our brave warriors who have fought to protect this country, my father had the utmost respect for his country and his flag.  Through the years, he spoke little of the battles he faced, it was a topic that remained a taboo to discuss till the day he died and was laid to rest.  I always admired how this man could repress the horrors he had seen in battle and yet live to remain calm, loving and dedicated to serve his fellow man with a sense of alacrity that was truly inspiring. He was a great human being, a model of how life was meant to be lived, a man of integrity and a pure soul. 

So in memory of my father and those selfless veterans who have served our country, I ask our fellow realtors who market around Memorial Day and the 4th of July by planting those little plastic flags near our mailboxes - Please go back and remove them later when the weekend has passed.  In time they become worn and tired.  The sun fades them, and their limp stripes and battered stars end up littering our streets.  Perhaps you've not noticed?  Maybe you need a refresher course from my father on how to treat the flag.  Daddy would surely instruct you if he were here today, but he has left this world and has left me in his place to kindly remind you.

I am sure you love your country and I'm sure that is why you plant all those flags in your neighborhood; that's a fine thing to do.  Please - just go back and remove them before they fade and end up on the street to be trampled by cars and foot traffic.  It is right and proper to remove them rather than leave them to rot in our streets.  Let's work together to honor our country and treat the flag accordingly.

May God bless America and may we faithfully honor our fallen warriors and those who have served us and our country so well.

Semper Fi Dad. 

 Old Glory

Comments(9)

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Paul S. Henderson, REALTOR®, CRS
Fathom Realty Washington LLC - Tacoma, WA
South Puget Sound Washington Agent/Broker!

Seeing the flag smashed on a street makes me feel down, I will stop and take care of it! As I did for my  years in the service...
Have a successful weekend Dan!
Paul

Aug 13, 2010 02:49 AM
Elizabeth Baklaich
Virtual Assistant to Steve Baklaich RE/MAX Realty Source MN - Saint Cloud, MN

Dan, That picture is painful, I get upset when American flags are not taken down in the rain, or left out at night without a light, let alone when something like this happens... My opinion is if you are going to fly OUR flag then honor it properly and fly it right. Take the time to learn how to honor it, please. I am suggesting this one and am going to repost it and show it to Steve. Thank you.

Sep 03, 2010 06:53 AM
Bob Willis
Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices California Properties - Orange, CA
Orange County & L.A. County Senior Home Advisor

Yes, and...

  • Don't fly the flag at night, unless it has a light on it.
  • Don't attach it to the outside of your car.  That is reserved for presidents.
  • The proper way to dispose of it is to burn it.
  • If it is tattered, dispose of it.
  • Don't wear it like a piece of clothing.
  • Don't use it as a window covering.

Don't use it as a sales gimmick, which means if you are going to distribute them over the holiday, don't attach your business card to it.  Give it out with no strings attached.

Sep 03, 2010 07:09 AM
Dan Quinn
The Eric Steart Group of Long & Foster Real Estate - Silver Spring, MD
Dan Quinn

Paul - Glad you feel the same.  Thanks for your service!

Elizabeth - Ditto and thanks for suggesting my post.

Bob - Maybe you knew my father?  I think you would have been good friends.

Sep 03, 2010 10:05 AM
Kathy Clulow
Uxbridge, ON
Trusted For Experience - Respected For Results

Dan - How true ..... like your dad many do not talk about the horrors they see ..... while it seems right to not talk about them perhaps if they did it would help end our conflicts with out the need for war.

Sep 13, 2010 04:11 AM
Joshua Zargari
MJ Decorators Workshop LI staging and home decorating - Lynbrook, NY
MJ Decorators Workshop

I do agree with you Dan!

Sep 23, 2010 05:03 AM
Mary Yonkers
Alan Kells School of Real Estate/Howard Hanna Real Estate - Erie, PA
Erie/PA Real Estate Instructor

Dan--Very nice tribute to your father & others who served so bravely for our country.  Good advice for all to follow to treat our flag with respect. My husband is 27 year navy veteran.  We fly our flag all year and replace it as needed.  If fact his son gave us a new flag for Christmas.

Hope to see you more frequently at ActiveRain.

Jan 22, 2011 09:52 AM
Dan Quinn
The Eric Steart Group of Long & Foster Real Estate - Silver Spring, MD
Dan Quinn

Hi Mary.  Thanks for stopping by.  It's a lovely thing to fly the colors isn't it?

Jan 22, 2011 10:01 AM
Roy Kelley
Retired - Gaithersburg, MD

Good post and a good reminder. Have a great week.

The colors of winter in Kentlands. Life is very good in Montgomery County, Maryland!

Jan 30, 2011 02:13 AM