Posted on Mar 23, 2016
CSM Charles Hayden Passed 7/29/2025
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I seldom wear a suit or coat and tie. When I do, there is always a US Flag pin on my lapel. At a wedding last weekend, there were ? 30 men w/ suits. There were at least 4 Vets amongst the party, one was a service academy graduate and retiree. The only one w/ Flag lapel pin was myself.
Am I out of touch? WTF?
If you check the photos of my car, someone recently tried to remove one of the decals! They were foiled, I always slice decals w/a razor blade! CPT Aaron Kletzing LTC Yinon Weiss
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Capt Richard I P.
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I don't connect as strongly with the flag as I do with the ideas around which the nation was founded. I understand the use of banners and signals, I wear a wedding ring to remember my wife and to signal to others that I am married. I wear a memorial band to remind myself of the brothers I have lost. I suppose I choose not to wear a flag because I feel no need carry a physical reminder of the nation or signal my association with or dedication to it. I imagine others feel similarly in their choice of accessories in suits.

Of course the miscreant's attempt to remove your decals is inexcusable and is vandalism.
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Edited 10 y ago
Anti-American scum, I'd love to catch them in the act removing the flag. Cowards are filthy creatures that lurk in the shadows and are strong only in numbers.

Unfortunately it seems to be a cultural rise, to be unappreciative of our flag and historic flags. It seems you are a target when you show the flag, or "I support Law Enforcement" emblems, etc.

This country has turned into a safe-haven for the anti-American movement. I certainly don't allow it, but I've never been lucky enough to run into someone stomping on the American flag... Probably for the better.
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I feel like I went off topic. As for the flag pin, I did read somewhere that a lot of people feel it to be "trying to hard." At least in interviews. I actually wouldn't expect the flag pin to be common. I only ever see CEO's or retired service-members who wear the flag pin.
CSM Battalion Command Sergeant Major
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I never wear a flag on the lapel of a suit jacket or sport coat. It isn't because I'm not patriotic, but rather I'm too forgetful to remember to put one on.
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CSM Charles Hayden Passed 7/29/2025
CSM Charles Hayden Passed 7/29/2025
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CSM (Join to see) You do realize that is a sign? At the wedding pre-welcome party, one lady reminded me to zip my fly! She held my glass as I did so.
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CSM Battalion Command Sergeant Major
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I'm getting old....I admit that!!!!
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Has civilian dress attire changed?
MSgt Michael Smith
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OMG it is a pin! Get over it. It doesn't mean anything. People read way too much into stuff.
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SSG Geospatial Engineer
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"Trying too hard"? ...to show pride? I don't get that one -then again, I don't get a lot of things that happen nowadays.
For the lapel pin and civilian attire, I don't know that there is necessarily ill intent (though being an Anti-American American seems to be trendy), I'd say it's more due to the decline of the proper gentleman.
As for someone peeling your sticker, I will refer to something my grandpa always told me: "One day, you'll wake up ...and realize the world is populated with idiots."

Ultimately, I'd say continue doing what you're doing -pride and good vibes have a way of rubbing off on others.
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CSM Charles Hayden Passed 7/29/2025
CSM Charles Hayden Passed 7/29/2025
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SSG (Join to see) Thank you for the kind, settling words. During and after Desert Storm, American Flags were displayed everywhere, on cars, out of cars, from houses, ect. I am simply 'staying the course'.
I believe other states display more US Flags and Eagles on homes and garages than in CA.
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SSG Geospatial Engineer
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CSM Charles Hayden Passed 7/29/2025 - Absolutely. Texas is a great example. It honestly blew me away when I first moved there ...incredibly prideful state.

Thank you for your post though ...as a SERE instructor I tend to shy away from making myself a target -but you reminded me of why it's pretty awesome to be unapologetically American.
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SrA Edward Vong
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Edited 10 y ago
I always wear a flag pin on my lapel, not so much to be patriotic, but because I like the way it looks. I wear the silver rectangular flag instead of the gold wavy one.

I am in no means patriotic (but I'm not anti-America either), and you cannot judge one's patriotism by if they wear a flag or not.
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LTC Jason Bartlett
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I think it leads to a bigger question "do we dress for success"? Look around (at least in the DOD Civilian Sector) most look like a bunch of free loaders and many organizations no longer enforce a professional environment. I think most of this is because professional dress and grooming standards have fallen from popular culture (like many other things).
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LTC Kevin B.
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Edited 10 y ago
Some people wear their patriotism on their sleeves (or lapel) more so than others. That's fine with me. However, that doesn't necessarily mean that others are less patriotic or have lost touch with what this country means to them. I often wear suits, but I normally don't wear any lapel pin because I think they make me the suit too "busy looking" and flashy. The same goes with pocket squares.

The attempts at removing your flag are another matter entirely. That deserves an @ss whipping.
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SP5 Richard Welch
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Out of touch? No, it's an individual decision to wear a lapel pin. Do as you choose to, rather than what is trendy.
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SGM Mikel Dawson
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I guess us older guys are of a different school. It's hard for me to display the flag as I'd like to. I do how ever had a flag patch I wore down range up in my work van all the time. 4th of July I will display the flag, hanging it on the end of my shop, but not up high on the flag pole as it is illegal here for me to do that unless I got permission from the police. i guess over here I'm still in the force protection mode if you know what I mean. If I was CONUS, I'd have an Army Vet hat to wear, and if dressed up, I'd have my mini ribbons on, jut because I can.
I understand you Chuck,
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