Happy Flag Day!

In August 1949, the U.S. Congress established June 14 as Flag Day, which commemorates the adoption of the official flag of the United States of America by the Continental Congress in 1777.  You might find it interesting to take a look at the U.S. Flag Code, which does not impose any civil or criminal penalties, but does give guidelines for the respectful display of the flag.  In the Flag Code, you will find that many of the most common places you will see a U.S. flag, especially around patriotic holidays, are in fact, disrespectful.  For example, from 36 U.S.C. Section 176:

(d) The flag should never be used as wearing apparel, bedding, or drapery. It should never be festooned, drawn back, nor up, in folds, but always allowed to fall free. Bunting of blue, white, and red, always arranged with the blue above, the white in the middle, and the red below, should be used for covering a speaker's desk, draping the front of the platform, and for decoration in general. . . .

(g) The flag should never have placed upon it, nor on any part of it, nor attached to it any mark, insignia, letter, word, figure, design, picture, or drawing of any nature. . . .

(i) The flag should never be used for advertising purposes in any manner whatsoever. It should not be embroidered on such articles as cushions or handkerchiefs and the like, printed or otherwise impressed on paper napkins or boxes or anything that is designed for temporary use and discard. Advertising signs should not be fastened to a staff or halyard from which the flag is flown. . . .