By Staff
Letter to the Editor
June 14 is Flag Day – A day we often let pass and pay little attention. Shame on us! This is the day that the American Flag was initially approved by the Continental Congress. In 1818, Congress passed legislation fixing the number of stripes at 13 and requiring the number of stars equal the number of states. The Constitution provides that it can be amended to reflect the country's current values.
It is time to bring attention to the Flag Amendment, which is to come to the Senate floor the week of June 26. The amendment reads, "The Congress shall have the power to prohibit the physical desecration of the flag of the United States." (S.J. Res. 12). This resolution currently has 66 known supporters in the Senate. This is just one short of what is needed for passage. This one person may be persuaded by our efforts! Additional information is available on this website: www.cfa.org.
This comment appeared on the Internet this week. "The anti-war, hate America crowd argues that burning the United States flag is merely free speech showing how violently someone disagrees with something that the nation is doing." With the tragedy of 9-11, not only were flags burned in the Middle East, they were burned here at home!
There is an appropriate way to retire a flag that is worn and tattered. These flags are burned in a respectful ceremony. If you have a flag, which needs to be retired, fold it and give it to a member of the American Legion or the VFW so that this can be done in a dignified manner.
It is time to pass the Flag Amendment. The Stars and Stripes are the symbols of this great nation in which we live; not a piece of clothe to be disrespected and destroyed!
Too many men and women have died fighting under the flag. Surveys have shown that 75 percent of Americans favor a Constitutional Amendment to ban flag burning or desecration. All 50 states have now passed resolutions urging some action to make desecration of the United States Flag illegal. The American Legion has stood in behalf of a ban on flag burning since the 1960's. This effort has been blocked year after year by a hand full of Washington legislators. It's time that we all say to Congress: Bring it to a vote!
We know that our Alabama Senators are behind this amendment. We need to let them know that we stand with them. They need our support. They may, as well, direct us to other Senators who need to be convinced to support this amendment. Our senators may be reached through the following ways:
Senator Jeff Sessions (R)
335 Russell Senate Office Building
Washington, D.C. 20510
(202) 224-4124
Email:
sessions.senate.gov/email/contact.cfm
Senator Richard Shelby (R)
110 Hart Senate Office Building
Washington, D.C. 20510
(202) 224-5744
Email:
Senate majority leader Bill Frist, R-Tenn., has pledged the S.J. Res. 12 will come to the floor the week of June 26. He wrote in a March editorial, "It's time we act to protect our flag and the values it represents. I hope this June that the Senate will stand up for American values and pass the Flag Protection Amendment."
We all need to be concerned and get involved to make this happen. The American Legion, Billy Glenn Rushing, Post 90 and the Auxiliary as well are squarely behind this effort. We need to show our support by contacting our Senators and inquiring of them what we can do. We are asking all members of the Legion and the Auxiliary to be the leaders in this effort. We need community support also.
We also would like to challenge your city to color itself red, white and blue in honor of Flag Day. Let every flag be out from Flag Day through July 4 at the very least. This will show our support for the flag amendment. We need city flags as well as residential flags flying. We all need to do our part. This matters!
God Bless America!
Aubrey Stanley
Commander, American Legion Billy Glenn Rushing Post 90
Mary Stanley
President, American Legion Auxiliary Billy Glenn Rushing Post 90