Do young people have respect for the flag?

SSG Paul Ellis — Sun, 06 Sep 2015 12:14:22 -0400

I try to eat healthy, but sometimes I'm bad. I stopped off at the McDonalds outside Ft. Hood's main gate and saw two young employees taking down the flag. While an employee was taking my order, the other two walked in, both giggling and one of them carrying the flag in a balled up mess.

I was incensed. The manager saw me and looked over at them. She chewed them a new one right there then told them to go wait in her office for more. She apologized to me and several other customers who saw the way they treated the flag.

The flag means something to me (as I'm sure it does to all of you here.) I served 23 years in the Army and deployed to Iraq 3 times. I lost friends and saw other friends lives and marriages implode. We put all of that at risk for a reason.

I know just those two kids don't represent ALL teens, but I think they may represent a trend. Today's society is so...rude. With so many young people feeling entitled and "role models" like Miley Cyrus and Kanye, I fear for our youth and worry about the future of this country.

The really scary thing is those were two kids around an Army post. I can only assume they were Army brats. So just how bad are the kids who don't have any relation to the military?

Response by MCPO Roger Collins made Sep 6 at 2015 12:23 PM

MCPO Roger Collins — Sun, 06 Sep 2015 12:23:41 -0400

Depends on where you are, here in E. TN, it is considered an honor to be on the honor guard raising and lowering the flag. They are taught at school and from what I have observed, here, respect the flag and are taught civics, almost to the level we were in years gone bu.

Response by SPC Jan Allbright, M.Sc., R.S. made Sep 6 at 2015 12:25 PM

SPC Jan Allbright, M.Sc., R.S. — Sun, 06 Sep 2015 12:25:16 -0400

Did you expect a formal flag ceremony?
For those kids the Flag is an abstract.
You have seen the Flag surrounded by sand-bags.
It changes your perspective.

Response by PO1 William "Chip" Nagel made Sep 6 at 2015 12:28 PM

PO1 William "Chip" Nagel — Sun, 06 Sep 2015 12:28:03 -0400

Was in the Cub Scouts or Boy Scouts? Did he serve in the Military? Probably doesn't know any better.

Response by SGT Scott Bell made Sep 6 at 2015 12:56 PM

SGT Scott Bell — Sun, 06 Sep 2015 12:56:34 -0400

Response by SFC Everett Oliver made Sep 6 at 2015 1:07 PM

SFC Everett Oliver — Sun, 06 Sep 2015 13:07:14 -0400

Unfortunately many people today have no clue how to treat the American Flag. Last year during our local Parade which runs the length of the village Myself (as Commander) and the 1st and 2nd Vice Commanders passed out copies of the US Flag Code to people along the parade route. We passed out over 200 pamphlets....It's a start.

Response by SFC Mark Merino made Sep 6 at 2015 5:51 PM

SFC Mark Merino — Sun, 06 Sep 2015 17:51:09 -0400

If no one shows them how to properly take down and fold the flag, they are just doing what they were told. As far as I know, no one trains anyone except first responders and military on flag etiquette. The real sin is these oxygen thieves stomping and wiping their ass with our colors. But in breaking news today, Kim Kardashian just went over xxx,xxx xxx twitter followers. We continue to get more brain dead with every generation.

Response by SGM Steve Wettstein made Sep 6 at 2015 8:34 PM

SGM Steve Wettstein — Sun, 06 Sep 2015 20:34:02 -0400

SSG Paul Ellis Great post Brother. There needs to be the knowledge of how to properly fold the U.S. Flag and also a want to treat it with respect. If those two things are not there, things such as you described will continue to happen.

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 7 at 2015 7:08 AM

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 07 Sep 2015 07:08:27 -0400

SSG Ellis, I would have felt the exact same way as you did, and would have found it hard not to say something. Like you said though, they are just kids and haven't been taught better. I think the youth now days have no clue as to the sacrifices men and women have made so that they can have the freedoms they enjoy. I have thought this for some time now, but this country is sliding further and further down the tubes. Hooah!

Response by SrA Matthew Knight made Sep 7 at 2015 10:49 AM

SrA Matthew Knight — Mon, 07 Sep 2015 10:49:29 -0400

I think the issue is no one teaches flag etiquette anymore. I didn't know anything about proper folding until I worked at a historic site under a prior Air Force officer who taught us. Even after that I can honestly say that I didn't fully understand the impact of the flag until passing it to my grandma at my grandpa's funeral.

Now don't take that the wrong way, I knew most flag etiquette and respected it before that. In fact back at my squadron at Scott AFB I was the only one to bring up the fact that our building's flag was repeatedly left out at night with no working lighting and my flight chief and I were the only ones to finally take it down and pass word up that the lighting needed to be fixed or we needed to remove it daily.

I have always had a respect for it, finally gained the passion through passing it off though. One of the most emotional moments in my life and I will never look at the flag as anything less than what it truly is and means to this country and those who live and fight for it.

Response by SPC Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 10 at 2015 4:39 PM

SPC Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 10 Sep 2015 16:39:54 -0400

While many of us young bucks have respect for the flag, there are a sad many that dont know how to properly care for it. They dont know how to fold it, carry it, or show it honor. Its not a subject taught in school these days. And add that to all the burning and ass-wiping that they see all over the social media with the flag, it is not surprising that they dont think of it as our national banner, but rather as a piece of cloth. I respect the flag of my nation, and I honor it as such. But many young people today simply do not know how to do these things, even if they have the same respect that I do.

Response by SGM Steve Wettstein made Sep 10 at 2015 5:51 PM

SGM Steve Wettstein — Thu, 10 Sep 2015 17:51:53 -0400

SSG Paul Ellis I taught my son, who is now a 12B SPC, to respect our flag, our elders....Pretty much old school stuff is what I taught him and I think he turned out pretty damn good.