US Flag question

dixidawg · 05-24-2009, 09:54 AM

Yesterday I attended my daughter's graduation at UMass in Amherst. It was a wonderful day and we celebrated her hard work culminating in her graduating summa cum laude.

However,,,,,, I was aghast at one point of the ceremony. The speaker mentioned that there were graduates from other countries. They then had a procession of flags from these 20 or so other countries. They came out and marched down the center of the stadium. They were in alphabetical order by country. You guessed it. The US flag was LAST. I always thought that we should be first? Is that correct?

I found this:

http://www.ushistory.org/betsy/flagetiq.html

See #9:

9. That the flag, when carried in a procession with another flag, or flags, should be either on the marching right; that is, the flag's own right, or, if there is a line of other flags, in front of the center of that line.
and 11#:

11. When flags of two or more nations are displayed, they are to be flown from separate staffs of the same height. The flags should be of approximately equal size. International usage forbids the display of the flag of one nation above that of another nation in time of peace. The order of precedence for flags generally is National flags (US first, then others in alphabetical order in English), State (host state first, then others in the order of admission) and territories (Washington DC, Puerto Rico, etc.), Military (in order of establishment: Army, Marine Corps, Navy, Air Force, Coast Guard), then other.

Do I understand this correctly? The US flag should have been FIRST in the procession? Or am I all wet?

theGringo · 05-24-2009, 10:03 AM

On Memorial Day weekend, no less. That's disgusting.

Navy Moose · 05-24-2009, 10:06 AM

Given the politics of the area, it wouldn't surprise me if they did it on purpose.

Cross-X · 05-24-2009, 10:07 AM

You've got it right.

Thanks, veterans!

FPrice · 05-24-2009, 10:08 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Navy Moose

Given the politics of the area, it wouldn't surprise me if they did it on purpose.

Don't forget ignorance. They may not have had a chance to do it on purpose due to a lack of knowledge of flag etiquette in the first place.

dixidawg · 05-24-2009, 10:14 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by FPrice

Don't forget ignorance. They may not have had a chance to do it on purpose due to a lack of knowledge of flag etiquette in the first place.

Which is what pisses me off the moset.

They either:

Knew the protocol and chose to ignore it

or

Didn't know the protocol.

Which is worse? An institution of higher learning NOT KNOWING what every American should have learned in 7th grade civics class?

Absolutely disgusting either way.

Lilorfnannie · 05-24-2009, 10:19 AM

I hope you write a letter to the President of that college and let him/her know.

Navy Moose · 05-24-2009, 10:20 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by FPrice

Don't forget ignorance. They may not have had a chance to do it on purpose due to a lack of knowledge of flag etiquette in the first place.

That's right, I forgot about this rule "Never attribute to malice what can be explained away as stupidity".

gene · 05-24-2009, 10:21 AM

It's worth bringing it to their attention and to the media attention assuming they cared!

rapture · 05-24-2009, 10:56 AM

The US flag always should go first. It shows that no matter how proud you are of your heritage, you are an American citizen FIRST, and whatever other nationality SECOND.

05-24-2009, 09:54 AM	#1
dixidawg NES Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Georgetown, Ma Posts: 1,514 iTrader: (10)	US Flag question Yesterday I attended my daughter's graduation at UMass in Amherst. It was a wonderful day and we celebrated her hard work culminating in her graduating summa cum laude. However,,,,,, I was aghast at one point of the ceremony. The speaker mentioned that there were graduates from other countries. They then had a procession of flags from these 20 or so other countries. They came out and marched down the center of the stadium. They were in alphabetical order by country. You guessed it. The US flag was LAST. I always thought that we should be first? Is that correct? I found this: http://www.ushistory.org/betsy/flagetiq.html See #9: 9. That the flag, when carried in a procession with another flag, or flags, should be either on the marching right; that is, the flag's own right, or, if there is a line of other flags, in front of the center of that line. and 11#: 11. When flags of two or more nations are displayed, they are to be flown from separate staffs of the same height. The flags should be of approximately equal size. International usage forbids the display of the flag of one nation above that of another nation in time of peace. The order of precedence for flags generally is National flags (US first, then others in alphabetical order in English), State (host state first, then others in the order of admission) and territories (Washington DC, Puerto Rico, etc.), Military (in order of establishment: Army, Marine Corps, Navy, Air Force, Coast Guard), then other. Do I understand this correctly? The US flag should have been FIRST in the procession? Or am I all wet? __________________ I'm a dyslexic agnostic insomniac. I lay awake at night wondering if there is a dog.

05-24-2009, 10:03 AM	#2
theGringo NES Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Western Mass Posts: 7,057 iTrader: (0)	On Memorial Day weekend, no less. That's disgusting. __________________ "Oh bother", said Pooh, as he chambered his last round.

05-24-2009, 10:06 AM	#3
Navy Moose NES Member Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Merrimack, NH Posts: 1,275 iTrader: (1)	Given the politics of the area, it wouldn't surprise me if they did it on purpose. __________________ Member of NRA (Easy Payment Life) Member of GOAL Member of Gun Owners of NH Member of Jews for the Preservation of Firearms Ownership. Member of Pelham Fish and Game "Stand your ground. Don't fire unless fired upon, but if they mean to have a war, let it begin here." -- CAPT. John Parker

05-24-2009, 10:07 AM	#4
Cross-X Attorney Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Metrowest, MA & Points South and West Posts: 8,026 iTrader: (9)	You've got it right. Thanks, veterans! __________________ "We arm folks and supply cases of ammo to the landed gentry!" Discrete, private and confidential. Custom gun sales, and ammunition sold by the case. Price is distributor cost, plus 20%. Shop phone is also our mobile phone: (508) 395-6500 Darius Arbabi Acclaimed massgunlaw.com web site: http://web.mac.com/dariusarbabi/Mass...unlaw.com.html

05-24-2009, 10:19 AM	#7
Lilorfnannie NES Member Join Date: May 2009 Location: NW Connecticut. Posts: 1,289 iTrader: (0)	I hope you write a letter to the President of that college and let him/her know. __________________ Things are what they are- regardless of what pretty thoughts a person might have in their head about them to the contrary. "America is at that awkward stage; it's too late to work within the system, but too early to shoot the bastards." -Claire Wolfe In memoriam: CT Pistol Permit Application, MIA since June 11, 2009

05-24-2009, 10:21 AM	#9
gene NES Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: City of Pea's and Body's Posts: 2,756 iTrader: (14)	It's worth bringing it to their attention and to the media attention assuming they cared! __________________ "The only freedom which deserves the name, is that of pursuing our own good in our own way, so long as we do not attempt to deprive others of theirs, or impede their efforts to obtain it." - John Stuart Mill, On Liberty (1859).

05-24-2009, 10:56 AM	#10
rapture NES Member Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Salem, MA Posts: 508 iTrader: (2)	The US flag always should go first. It shows that no matter how proud you are of your heritage, you are an American citizen FIRST, and whatever other nationality SECOND. __________________ "I don't have to spank my kids. I found that waving my gun around gets the point across. -Denis Leary-

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