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   Caring for Old Glory John Seebeck, owner of House of Flags in Littleton demonstrates how to fold the American flag in accordance with the United State Flag Code, which acts as an official guide to all handling and display of the flag. A $100 fine can be imposed for desecrating the flag in certain fashion. Photo by Tom Munds By Holly Cook Published: 10.02.09 Many see an American flag and recognize it as a symbol of freedom, liberty and possibility. Littleton resident John Seebeck sees it as an approximately 5-foot by 8-foot piece of fabric that should be displayed and maintained according to an official code, the United States Flag Code, that is. This code is the guide for the handling and display of the Stars and Stripes. While Seebeck has dedicated 30 years of his life to flags and interpreting the code, do not be fooled. “ I am not what one would consider a flag nerd, ” Seebeck contested from inside an office full of more than 700 bald eagle figurines. Rather, he is a flag professional. “ I understand that the business of flags includes maintaining a level of respect. ” Fittingly, section 176 of the U.S. Flag Code is titled “ Respect for the Flag. ” “No disrespect should be shown to the flag of the United States of America,” reads the introduction. That means using the flag for advertising purposes, or wearing it as a costume, or flying it when it is tattered and torn, according to the code. And the list goes on and on. The code does not officially impose penalties for misuse of the Stars and Stripes but can impose as much as a $100 fine on anyone who knowingly desecrates the flag. Otherwise, penalties are left to each individual state and to the federal government for the District of Columbia. Like the federal law, Colorado flag law doesn’t impose penalties for showing disrespect but it does prohibit the display of any flag other than U.S. or state on public buildings or grounds, or displays of such a flag in a place knowing it is likely to cause a breach of the peace. Seebeck primarily deals with businesses like car dealerships that display large flags but do not know how to properly service and treat their flag. “There’s a definite protocol,” Seebeck said from behind his necktie, which looks like the American flag. Is he in violation of the code? Not according to the National Flag Foundation. “The flag should only be used for the purpose of expressing the love you have for your country,” the NFF writes in their book “Honor Our Flag: How to Care For, Fly, and Otherwise Respect the Stars and Stripes. Seebeck also claims fame to having the largest, most diverse inventory of flags at his flag store, House of Flags, 5556 Sycamore Street in Littleton. And when it comes to servicing tattered flags or even painting a flag pole, Seebeck has it covered. His flag rotation service crew makes the rounds to various businesses to change out flags when they need repaired. “We do this so that person driving past the car dealership who sees a tattered flag doesn’t get a negative impression of the business,” he said. Even this service requires that the crew follow flag procedure. “Always raise it briskly and lower it ceremoniously,” the NFF says. “The flag, when flown at half-staff, should be first hoisted to the peak for an instant and then lowered to the half staff position,” the code says. “The flag should be again raised to the peak before it is lowered for the day. On Memorial Day the flag should be displayed at half staff until noon only, and then raised to the top of the staff.” “It is about the visual aspect,” Seebeck said about why his crews dedicate time to servicing flags. “And you follow the protocol because of what the flag represents,” Seebeck said. “It stands for freedom, liberty. It stands for what the founders had in mind.” The U.S. Flag Code can be found at www.usflag.org. |
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