Our American Flag

Our blogging assignment in our summer homeschooling this week was, What the American Flag means to me . When I handed out the assignment it began with a history lesson on the Star-Spangled Banner and Francis Scott Key. All three girls (we lost a student to vacation) looked at me in horror as they read the topic.

Darcy: "I don't even know this dude."

It turned out that none of the girls had ever heard of Francis Scott Key. Or so they claimed. I have my doubts. This lack of knowledge led me to a lesson on flag etiquette. All three of them listened as I read to them a list of dos and don'ts regarding our flag (http://www.usflag.org/). Some of the important ones learned were:

• The flag should never touch the ground or an object when lowered. It should be received into waiting hands and arms.


• The flag should never be dipped to any person or thing.

• The flag must be illuminated when flown at night.


• The flag should be stored neatly and ceremoniously.

• When a flag is so worn it is no longer fit to serve as a symbol of our country, it should be destroyed by burning in a dignified manner. (Most American Legion Posts conduct a dignified flag burning ceremony and accept flags for this purpose)


• The American flag always flies above any other flag on the same pole.


• The flag is always the first flag to be raised and the last to be lowered when flown next to other flags from states, communities, etc.


• The flag is flown at half staff in mourning for designated, principal government leaders and upon presidential or gubernatorial order.

• When used to cover a casket, the flag should be placed with the union at the head and over the left shoulder. It should not be lowered into the grave.

This information led to what we celebrate on the Fourth of July, which the girls did know. We read more information about the separating of the American colonies from Great Britain, learning that the legal separation actually occurred on July 2, 1776, and the approval of the Declaration of Independence occurred on the fourth.

I was pleasantly surprised when the final blogs were finished. I think they are worth reading so please take a look at them:

http://www.emeraldboos.blogspot.com/

http://www.heathersdaytoday.blogspot.com/

http://www.maddysff.blogspot.com/

Update: Only the last link has what was written. The other girls removed their assignments once they were given permission to control their blogs. Sigh.