Although many Americans hold the U.S. flag in great respect, many are unaware of how that respect should manifest in treatment of the Stars and Stripes.
A Salute to the Flag planned for Fleming County Sunday will address some of those issues and bring together people to honor the national banner.
The program will feature proper handling etiquette of the United States flag.
According to Fleming County Museum Society President Brenda Plummer, the ceremony will begin at 1 p.m. with the American Legion presenting the colors and giving a brief history of Flag Day.
The program will be 1-4 p.m. in the parking lot across from the Covered Bridge Museum on East Water Street. Should it rain, the ceremony will be moved to the Strawberry United Methodist Church.
During the day, there will be a demonstration on the proper way to fold a flag and the meaning of each fold, as well as the proper etiquette for displaying the flag.
At the end of the ceremony, there will be a presentation to show the proper way to retire the flag.
Music will also accompany the ceremony.
"This is the first year we have done something like this," Plummer said. "We normally try to do different events throughout the year and this year, Flag Day will fall on a Sunday, so it was perfect timing."
Plummer said the museum society chose to hold the salute to the flag because flag etiquette is not taught to enough people.
"Most people don't know the proper etiquette for taking care of the flag," she said. "We all know you're supposed to show respect for the flag, but people don't know the other details, like how you're supposed to shine a light on the flag at night; that it isn't suppose to touch the ground; and the cutting of the flag during the retirement. There is a lot that even I don't know, so I think this will be a lesson for everyone."
Plummer said during the ceremony, District Court Judge Frank McCartney will be reading a piece about the retirement of the flag and what each step represents.
Personal flags will also be given away during the day. The flags were donated by the Woodmen Life organization.
A 3-by-5 flag, donated by the American Legion, will also be given away during the day.
Lunch will be served just before the ceremony. The cost for the lunch is $8 a person and includes pulled pork, baked beans, chops, cole slaw and a drink.
"The lunch is the only fund-raiser we will have that day for the Covered Bridge Museum," Plummer said. "We wanted to do it shortly before the program, to allow the 'after church' crowd to eat."
Plummer said she hopes to see guests leave with not only an appreciation of the flag, but an understanding of the proper etiquette.
"I know a lot of us remember learning about the flag in school, but maybe not all of the etiquette we were taught," she said. "I hope someone will come away with a little more knowledge."
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