11 May 2009

Why would our flag be in the helicopter like this?


U.S. Secretary of Defense Robert Gates flew in a Blackhawk helicopter over Kandahar, Afghanistan, Thursday.(Jason Reed/Reuters) (via)
Why is a U.S. flag being displayed in a Blackhawk helicopter like this? It can't be seen externally, and I doubt that it's just being transported in this fashion. It seems to be supported on a transverse wire or thread - as an ornament?

The U.S. Flag Code (Public Law 94-344) specifically states in Section 4:

(f) The flag should never be used as a covering for a ceiling.

These are not unpatriotic people in the photo. Are they just unaware of flag courtesy? Or was this perhaps the photographer's idea of a patriotic display?

3 comments:

  1. That is a bit odd. Especially considering military men are probably well aware of the flag code. Not to say that they could simply be lax or unaware of that particular.

    I will say that flag etiquette is pretty lax in general these days, even in a lot of government settings. Even the federal building here in Providence had an unlit flag displayed at night. The flags at the fire stations and police stations around here are almost all unlit and in tattered condition. The one place here where the flag is properly cared for is the Korean War memorial downtown.

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  2. Another possibility is the flag was used to cover top-secret elements of the aircraft?

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  3. Don't even get me started on flags worn as clothing.

    I agree that flag etiquette is being broken in this picture, but at least the flag looks like it is good shape. Perhaps it was this way for the photo op.

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