Editor:
In response to Robin Tyler Schichtel: Flying the flag of the United States of America upside down has been accepted as a sign of distress, accepted and looked for in times of war and trouble, not of disrespect or disgrace.
Being a vet of the first Gulf Conflict, (given lightly as you proclaim no identifying credentials in your letter), you were probably taught this in Basic Training: Burning the American Flag is totally disrespectful and unauthorized in the United States Code of Military Justice for purpose of demonstration and disrespect. It does give leeway to honorable and required retirement of the flag, e.g.. burning of retired and dirty, non-serviceable flags. Burning of the U.S. flag, as an example of disrespect is not lawful in any service members eyes, nor accepted as an act of freedom of expression, or freedom of speech.
We fought to keep this symbol of our freedom and future of freedom off the ground. We, the past and present service members of our United States of America, (which you propose to include in your letter, who by the way, may not feel the same as yourself) do not and will not accept the degradation and disrespect of our national flag. If you believe that the flag of the United States of America is within your realm of given (not earned) rights of freedom of speech, then I can only assume that you have no true respect and no honor for the flag of the United States of America. That truly has no political affiliation, good or bad to this great country we live in, and have served faithfully. Any service that has been done for true patriotic reasons will always be applauded and respected, from any past and present service members.
Your neighbor and WWII vet has earned his right to fly the flag as he desires, as long as it fits within the service the flag has been intended for. You must remember, he has given what was asked of him for what the flag stands for.
Wayne T. Wallis
Cortez
Via email