As the wife and I watched the ceremony bringing George H W Bush to the capitol to lie in state, my wife wondered when the whole flag at half staff thing began. I immediately went to the computer as enquiring minds want to know. This gesture of respect and mourning apparently began in 1692. A British ship had sailed to Greenland in search of silver. The indigenous people there had met the British some years earlier. The British took several of them prisoner aboard their ship and sailed away. When this ship, The Hearts Ease, arrived in Greenland the indigenous folks hadn't forgotten about that and promptly threw a spear in to the chest of the captain, killing him. The crew lowered the flag to half mast as a sign of respect for their dead captain. Some say the flag was lowered the width of the flag only leaving room at the top for a invisible flag of death. That is the earliest mention of that tradition according to Google and a few other sources.
In the United States the first mention of this was when George Washington passed away. That was in 1799. All Naval vessels were ordered to lower their flags to half mast to honor him. I haven't read anywhere when the flag were first ordered to half staff. Note the difference between half staff and half mast. Mast, as the name implies is the flag pole on a ship. On land , it is a staff. I'm certain, as with most traditions, the original concept, in this case, making room for an imaginary flag of death, got expanded over time in response to complaints. I'm certain someone said, George Washington wasn't a sailor, he was a soldier and the flag should have been flown at half staff. Over time an entire code has been written providing guidance for this display of mourning. Pomp and circumstance, and I personally love every minute of it. I'm big on tradition and the upholding of them. It is our traditions that provide the continuity a family or a nation requires to form strong bonds. Without an anchor to the past we are truly adrift! And that is my nautical reference for this morning.
The manner in which we treat the flag has changed over the years. In recent times the level of respect has been lowered significantly in my opinion. How many support the notion of burning the flag in protest, throwing it on the ground and stomping on it as a valid expression? Oh, many will tell you how much they love and respect the flag but support others " rights " to disrespect that flag. These are the same folks that get " triggered " by a statue or " hateful " words. I see the flag flying all ragged and dirty, in all kinds of weather. I see people take the flag and just bunch it up. I see the flag touching the ground, something I was taught was never to happen! I was taught how men held that flag high, keeping off the ground, even as bullets tore threw them. Other men grabbed that flag while the bullets were still flying to prevent its' fall. It is certainly not too much to ask to keep the flag from touching the ground. But, I see the flag being used as clothing and lawn furniture. The flag is plastered on everything to boost sales of a product.
Ah but here it is 2018 and we can't be bothered with any of that. We are much too busy, much too liberated in our progressive thinking to be concerned with such. Just do as you please. It's fine to disrespect the flag in any way you choose. It is even protected by law, the right to do that. It's also a right to demand everything from the government. Yes, the flag is a representation of a Government by the people. So it makes perfect sense to disrespect that flag and then demand something in return. Works that way with people right? I'll insult and disrespect you while I demand you give me money! What is being overlooked is that respect can not be legislated. That's why the law protects those that would disrespect our flag. The same reason our forefathers created that separation between church and state. You cannot legislate religious belief or practices. The intent was not to ignore the existence of a higher power, indeed the intent was to acknowledge that power as greater than anything man could devise. The lowering of the flag is the same as bowing your head in respect and sorrow. I'd say as a symbol of prayer. When that flag is placed at half staff it is the nation that bows its' head.
Interesting, the first President George Washington was honored by flying the flag at half staff. George Herbert Walker Bush is the first president to lie in state named George. Did you know that only presidents lie in state? All others lie in repose. The president represents the state ( government) and that is why. To lie in repose is sleeping or being in a state of tranquility. George Washington didn't lie in state. Other presidents have declined the honor, it is up to the family to decide. The flag has been flown at half staff for every president, a tradition that continues.
In the United States the first mention of this was when George Washington passed away. That was in 1799. All Naval vessels were ordered to lower their flags to half mast to honor him. I haven't read anywhere when the flag were first ordered to half staff. Note the difference between half staff and half mast. Mast, as the name implies is the flag pole on a ship. On land , it is a staff. I'm certain, as with most traditions, the original concept, in this case, making room for an imaginary flag of death, got expanded over time in response to complaints. I'm certain someone said, George Washington wasn't a sailor, he was a soldier and the flag should have been flown at half staff. Over time an entire code has been written providing guidance for this display of mourning. Pomp and circumstance, and I personally love every minute of it. I'm big on tradition and the upholding of them. It is our traditions that provide the continuity a family or a nation requires to form strong bonds. Without an anchor to the past we are truly adrift! And that is my nautical reference for this morning.
The manner in which we treat the flag has changed over the years. In recent times the level of respect has been lowered significantly in my opinion. How many support the notion of burning the flag in protest, throwing it on the ground and stomping on it as a valid expression? Oh, many will tell you how much they love and respect the flag but support others " rights " to disrespect that flag. These are the same folks that get " triggered " by a statue or " hateful " words. I see the flag flying all ragged and dirty, in all kinds of weather. I see people take the flag and just bunch it up. I see the flag touching the ground, something I was taught was never to happen! I was taught how men held that flag high, keeping off the ground, even as bullets tore threw them. Other men grabbed that flag while the bullets were still flying to prevent its' fall. It is certainly not too much to ask to keep the flag from touching the ground. But, I see the flag being used as clothing and lawn furniture. The flag is plastered on everything to boost sales of a product.
Ah but here it is 2018 and we can't be bothered with any of that. We are much too busy, much too liberated in our progressive thinking to be concerned with such. Just do as you please. It's fine to disrespect the flag in any way you choose. It is even protected by law, the right to do that. It's also a right to demand everything from the government. Yes, the flag is a representation of a Government by the people. So it makes perfect sense to disrespect that flag and then demand something in return. Works that way with people right? I'll insult and disrespect you while I demand you give me money! What is being overlooked is that respect can not be legislated. That's why the law protects those that would disrespect our flag. The same reason our forefathers created that separation between church and state. You cannot legislate religious belief or practices. The intent was not to ignore the existence of a higher power, indeed the intent was to acknowledge that power as greater than anything man could devise. The lowering of the flag is the same as bowing your head in respect and sorrow. I'd say as a symbol of prayer. When that flag is placed at half staff it is the nation that bows its' head.
Interesting, the first President George Washington was honored by flying the flag at half staff. George Herbert Walker Bush is the first president to lie in state named George. Did you know that only presidents lie in state? All others lie in repose. The president represents the state ( government) and that is why. To lie in repose is sleeping or being in a state of tranquility. George Washington didn't lie in state. Other presidents have declined the honor, it is up to the family to decide. The flag has been flown at half staff for every president, a tradition that continues.
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