The American Flag
There have been so many American flag lowerings to half staff as directed by the Governor lately, it almost seems like residents who want to show their respect by having an American flag in front of their homes, are confused.
But at the Highlands Elementary School, it is even worse. Their American Flag, highly visible from not only Route 36, a state highway, but throughout a good portion of the community, has been at half staff for days. The flag at the new Highlands Borough Hall as well as at Our Lady of Perpetual Help church, are both flying proudly at full staff, as they should be. But the flag at the Highlands Elementary School has been at half-staff. Is it because someone forgot? Or it was the flag bearer’s week off and nobody assigned to take his place? Do they even say the Pledge of Allegiance in classrooms every day anymore?
When that flag was still at half staff this morning, a call to the school’s office was even more shocking and more distressful. The response to the query of why the American flag has not been raised in days was met with the response: “Thank you for bringing it to our attention. We will contact the person who takes care of that. Thank you.”
It was true. Nobody even noticed the American flag in front of their building was at half-staff. Or card until they got a phone call.
Think of it. At the public school on the main thoroughfare to a Coast Guard station, a former Army base, a former Air Force base, and the home of the only resident of the borough who gave his life for that flag and his nation during the Vietnam War, to say nothing of so many others in every other war since the Revolution. But at the public school, they did not know, or did not notice, or did not care, that the American flag was not accorded the honor it deserves?
Doesn’t that make you wonder not only whether they still say a pledge of allegiance every school day, but also, do they even teach anything about the flag during any history class?
Respect for the American flag, and knowledge of the proper way to display it are both failing rapidly throughout the nation, but specifically right here in New Jersey. More specifically, right here in the Bayshore.
Part of it, it seems, is because the Governor himself does not adhere to the regulations governing the flag. It is clear, under United States Code Title 36, as well as Title 4, Chapter 1 of the United States Code, the flag shall be flown at half-staff for 30 days ONLY for the death of the President or former President of the United States. Yet Governor Murphy, in defiance of that code, directed flags in New Jersey be flown at half-staff for 30 days at the death of the Lieutenant Governor.
A nice lady. A sudden, unexpected death. A sorrowful event. But not deserving of the flag of the United States lowered to half-staff for 30 days.
The commissioner of the PBU also just died, and the Governor once again put his friendship with an employee above respect for the American flag. According to Title 4, he does have the right to lower the American flag to half-staff at the death of an official in the government or the death of a member of the Armed Forces who dies while on active duty.
The Commissioner who worked so hard to electrify homes and put up windmills in the ocean isn’t exactly a well known name in the state, and while if he is termed to be an official of the government he is entitled to the honor, it seems that a soldier or sailor who managed to survive one or two wars and died at home after defending his country for years only gets the honor if he dies on active duty.
There are many days when confusion is apparent in the Atlantic Highlands as well. The police departments in both towns apparently are assigned to tend to the flags. Both do their jobs well and are appreciated for it.
But the bank behind Veterans Park in the middle of town often has the flag at half staff when it is improper. And the post office, both in Atlantic Highlands and in Highlands, apparently only thinks it’s necessary to raise the flag the day after the day it should be lowered until sundown, or only thinks it’s necessary if someone is working that day.
The flag is flown at half-staff specifically to show honor and respect to one who has given so much to the nation, not everyone who has given so much, including military members, but only to a specific elite group. We dishonor those people as well when we spread that respect and honor among others who, according to the United States Code, are not deserving of it.
If we cannot respect our own flag, how do we expect any other nation to look at us with pride and respect?
And if our elementary school children can not even have the flag of their nation honored and respected as it should be, what is going to happen in generations to come?
Again…do they even pledge allegiance to the flag in public schools these days?
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