A Word about the Flag Code and the Flags that I create...
Recently I was challenged by an individual about the possibility that my military ribbon flags and my blue line/red line flags were defacing the American Flag. This individual stated that "It pi**es me off to no end seeing defaced flags on here", in reference to an ad that I had placed on FaceBook Marketplace, in which I displayed a Thin Blue Line Flag. The individual went on to say "It would behoove you to unf**k these flags".
Naturally, this was a bit unsettling. So I felt it was best to seek out a recognized authority on Flag Code, and ask if the military ribbon flags or the blue line/red line flags that I build are in fact legal. I found NAVA, the North American Vexillological Association, headquartered in Boston. They are a group of folks who study flags, and contributed to guidance on Flag Code. If anyone could help me out, surely it was NAVA!
I submitted my story to their website, and patiently waited for their response. Below is the email reply from the current President of NAVA, Peter Ansoff.
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Dear Kevin,
Hello, thanks for contacting NAVA. The issue you raise doesn't have an airtight answer, but here are some thoughts. First of all, the relevant reference in the US Flag Code is Section 8(g), which says:
(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."
The Flag Code is the law in the sense that it was adopted by Congress and signed by the President, but it is (in its own words) a "codification of existing rules and customs pertaining to the display and use of the flag of the United States of America . . " It's intended only as guidance and is not enforceable by law. However, I think your question is about whether your creations are *appropriate*. One argument might be that they are not actually flags, but graphic depictions of flags. The Flag Code does mention flag images in a couple of places (for example, it says that they should not be shown on disposable items like napkins), but for the most part it's focused on display and use of actual cloth flags, not representations like yours. The point is that a picture or sculpture of a flag is not the same thing as an actual flag, and (arguably) Section 8(g) does not apply to it.
Another consideration is that customs change over time. The "blue line" flag in particular seems to have become accepted by a significant segment of the population, and is not generally thought of as being disrespectful. This is true of other aspects of the Flag Code. For example, the Code says that the flag should never be displayed flat or horizontally, but that's frequently done nowadays at sporting events and in parades.
The bottom line is that your creations are certainly legal. Whether they're appropriate or not is really a matter of individual opinion. I'm sorry this can't be more definitive, but I hope it's useful. Thanks again for contacting us!
Best regards,
Peter Ansoff, President
North American Vexillological Association (NAVA)
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Recently I was challenged by an individual about the possibility that my military ribbon flags and my blue line/red line flags were defacing the American Flag. This individual stated that "It pi**es me off to no end seeing defaced flags on here", in reference to an ad that I had placed on FaceBook Marketplace, in which I displayed a Thin Blue Line Flag. The individual went on to say "It would behoove you to unf**k these flags".
Naturally, this was a bit unsettling. So I felt it was best to seek out a recognized authority on Flag Code, and ask if the military ribbon flags or the blue line/red line flags that I build are in fact legal. I found NAVA, the North American Vexillological Association, headquartered in Boston. They are a group of folks who study flags, and contributed to guidance on Flag Code. If anyone could help me out, surely it was NAVA!
I submitted my story to their website, and patiently waited for their response. Below is the email reply from the current President of NAVA, Peter Ansoff.
-------------------------
Dear Kevin,
Hello, thanks for contacting NAVA. The issue you raise doesn't have an airtight answer, but here are some thoughts. First of all, the relevant reference in the US Flag Code is Section 8(g), which says:
(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."
The Flag Code is the law in the sense that it was adopted by Congress and signed by the President, but it is (in its own words) a "codification of existing rules and customs pertaining to the display and use of the flag of the United States of America . . " It's intended only as guidance and is not enforceable by law. However, I think your question is about whether your creations are *appropriate*. One argument might be that they are not actually flags, but graphic depictions of flags. The Flag Code does mention flag images in a couple of places (for example, it says that they should not be shown on disposable items like napkins), but for the most part it's focused on display and use of actual cloth flags, not representations like yours. The point is that a picture or sculpture of a flag is not the same thing as an actual flag, and (arguably) Section 8(g) does not apply to it.
Another consideration is that customs change over time. The "blue line" flag in particular seems to have become accepted by a significant segment of the population, and is not generally thought of as being disrespectful. This is true of other aspects of the Flag Code. For example, the Code says that the flag should never be displayed flat or horizontally, but that's frequently done nowadays at sporting events and in parades.
The bottom line is that your creations are certainly legal. Whether they're appropriate or not is really a matter of individual opinion. I'm sorry this can't be more definitive, but I hope it's useful. Thanks again for contacting us!
Best regards,
Peter Ansoff, President
North American Vexillological Association (NAVA)
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