Posted on Jun 11, 2014
SGT Mitch McKinley
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Would you work for a university or company that intentionally displayed the flags out of order of precedence?

At the baseball stadium at the Christian university I work at, they fly the Christian and school flags after the American flag, then the state flag. When I pointed this out, thinking it was just an oversight, I was informed that it was intentional.
I told the "powers that be" that I would be happy to get them a copy of the US Flag Code. They said they knew what the Code says, but they didn't care, it was going to fly the way they wanted it to.

Keep in mind, the school mascot is the Patriots and we are right next the the DFW National Cemetery, where thousands of veterans were laid to rest.

I have spoken up about my anger over blatant disregard for the the law covering display of flags, but I have been ridiculed for my passion on this topic and have been called petty.

I start my new job at another company on Monday.
Posted in these groups: Customs and courtesies logo Customs and Courtesies
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SCPO Missile Technician
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I believe that flags should be displayed properly, but I would not think I would end my employment because of that issue.
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SGT Mitch McKinley
SGT Mitch McKinley
11 y
Thanks for responding Senior Chief.
I am not leaving solely for that reason. I had an offer I couldn't refuse. However, I struggled with whether or not I should even address the issue with the executive leadership, even though I felt strongly about it.
A good friend asked me this question: If you are convicted about something passionately, then refuse to speak about that conviction, is it really a conviction, or merely an opinion?
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MAJ Robert (Bob) Petrarca
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Kudos for keeping after them. No one will ever have the passion that we vets & SMs do but it is unfortunate that others will not accept our guidance on such things.
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SGT Mitch McKinley
SGT Mitch McKinley
11 y
You are correct sir. It is unfortunate.
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Sgt Packy Flickinger
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Its not petty at all. It just shows how little some care for our flag. I've pointed out a few blatent improperly flown flags to my wife and her responce was "who cares". I pointed out the error of flying two countries flags on the same pole and the reply was "its a stupid rule"

I love my wife with all my heart but this display of the way many people feel about Old Glory is very disheartening.
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SFC Steven Borders
SFC Steven Borders
11 y
That is sad indeed. But I feel that way when people wrap the flag around their bodies during the Olympics. It just brings chills to me that such a great symbol is reduced to nothing more than a scarf.
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Sgt Packy Flickinger
Sgt Packy Flickinger
11 y
That's on a par with making clothes that look like flags.
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Improper display of flags
PO1 Disaster Survivor Assistance Specialist
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Edited 11 y ago
Sgt McKinley -
I can appreciate your passion. Sometimes, especially in the Bible-belt the religious zealots tend to want to thrumb their nose at the rule of law. Is this the case with this company? - perhaps you could enlighten us on this particular question.

I too have seen companies deliberately flout the law regarding proper flag etiquette - sometimes it's a particular supervisor or manager - rarely is it senior management. But as soon as I make that statement someone will prove me wrong!

However, I have very rarely found company's who continue to flout established law/regulations when they are called out about the matter - especially in Texas. Your situation sorta stuns me.

Personally, after being informed the company was doing it deliberately I would have made a call to each of the local news desks and let one or more of those agencies take up the fight.

Like my old granddad used to say: "time and place".
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SGT Mitch McKinley
SGT Mitch McKinley
11 y
That is correct sir.
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SGT Mitch McKinley
SGT Mitch McKinley
11 y
In almost every facet, DBU is a great place...but in light of our location, our mascot and our place as Christians...we must be above reproach in this matter. But instead, we are showing our ignorance and arrogance.
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SrA Plane Captain
SrA (Join to see)
11 y
This is what makes our Country GREAT. We can display flags out of order and not be breaking the law. It is sad that companies are not educated to fly flags properly or in this case with out the regard that because of our country and country men they get to fly a flag.
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PO1 Disaster Survivor Assistance Specialist
PO1 (Join to see)
11 y
Dallas Baptist is a most excellent school - nothing to apologize for sir. However, as I have said before, religious zealots tends to bring out the worst in just about anyone and in any religion. There are many instances in world history in which the root cause of the war can be traced to someone's intolerance.

None-the-less, if DBU is your alma mater - be proud.
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CPT George Raileanu
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Get the local media involved
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SGT Mitch McKinley
SGT Mitch McKinley
11 y
I have considered that. But it will have to wait until next baseball season.
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CPT George Raileanu
CPT George Raileanu
11 y
Hooah!
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SGT Ian Falls
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Shit I just dropped out of collage for an online discussion about vets where some worthless trash was disrespecting vets so I replied to her comment with my personal opinions and when i was the one who got a talking to cause i used the word fuckin my first response to the teacher and entire school i told them all they could go fuck themselves and ill go ahead and make sure you dont get this G.I. bill
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SGT Mitch McKinley
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Dbu
To demonstrate further that I believe the intent of this administration is to intentionally fly the Christian flag at a higher precedence than the Texas flag is this:

The image below depicts the three flag poles on campus and their position on campus as it slopes downward. These are individual displays, and are well beyond the 100' distance that was mentioned earlier. But it is still indicative of the mindset.
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SGT Mitch McKinley
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Actually,

Flying the flags in violation of the US Flag Code is breaking the law, but it is a non-enforceable, non-punishable offense.

But the Flag Code is indeed a law.
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SGT Mitch McKinley
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Edited 11 y ago
Flags
So, I finally got a photo to back up my claims.
See for yourselves.
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MSgt Marty Hogan
MSgt Marty Hogan
11 y
Wow... just wow. I do not need a vocabulary lesson.
I misidentified the center-field wall as the scoreboard, but you should have been able to figure that out. Did you look at my diagram? If the distance between the two poles on the top is more than 100ft, then they are considered "separate" displays per the US Flag code.
But for argument’s sake, let’s say that the distance in not more than 100ft, to be consistent with both the US Flag Code and the Christian Flag Code “place the US flag at the far left (audience's perspective) and the Christian flag to the far right, front, of the audience. Both flags should be at the same height and of approximately the same size.”
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SGT Mitch McKinley
SGT Mitch McKinley
11 y
I didn't see the diagram the first time. And I see what you are saying about the distance separating the two making it two displays. But where does that show in the Flag Code. I can't find it.

I wasn't trying to provide a vocabulary lesson. It was a rebuttal to your statement that it wasn't blatant disregard.

You are making an argument that the display would be correct if the Texas flag was on a pole 6 feet taller. But it isn't. It is on a flag that is the same height as the one next to it.
There are many ifs that can be put into to play. But as it stands, with the way they fly them now, it is wrong, and it was disregarded with apathy.
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SGT Mitch McKinley
SGT Mitch McKinley
11 y
I went and measured. It is 98' 4" between the two upper poles.
If you can show me where the flag code deems that to be two separate displays, I will stand corrected and close the matter.
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MSgt Marty Hogan
MSgt Marty Hogan
11 y
Here are 2 links (not flag code, but generally accepted as appropriate):
http://www.heroldflags.com/poles.htm
http://www.gettysburgflag.com/flag_pole_ratio.php

In these, the pole height determines the size of the flag and the distance between them. If the flagpole is 50ft high, then the maximum distance between the two poles for them to be considered in the same display would be 25ft. If these poles are any taller, then they have the wrong size flags on them.

This is a great discussion, because most people do not know/understand the importance of respecting our colors. My suggestion to the College Board would be to place a taller pole right in the center of the two, with a larger US Flag, Texas to the left, Christian to the right. If they do not want to fund it, I go back to my original comments and say hold a fundraiser and get volunteers to do the work and fix it yourself.

Here is the reference for the Christian Flag code:
http://www.ushistory.org/betsy/more/christianflagcode.htm
and since this is a "Christian" college, the field would hold it in the same reverence as if it were a church sanctuary.
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