Veterans Corner

Community Contributed

By Jesse Church

Aloha all my fellow veterans and residents of Molokai, old Jesse here with all the veterans news and upcoming events. Sunday, June 14, is Flag Day, and I hope that everyone on the island will display their flag. I would love to see every building on Molokai displaying our flag.

The flag of the United States of America has 13 horizontal stripes, seven red and six white, alternating and a union which consists of 50 white five-point stars on a blue field placed in the upper quarter next to the staff and extending to the lower edge of the fourth red stripe from the top.

I would like to share with you proper behavior toward the flag, according to the U.S. Flag Code. During the national anthem, if the flag is displayed, all present except those in uniform should stand at attention facing the flag with the right hand over the heart. Men not in uniform should remove their headdress with their right hand and hold it at the left shoulder, the hand being over the heart. Persons in uniform should render the military salute at the note of the anthem and retain this position until the last note. When the flag is not displayed, face toward the music and act in the same manner as if the flag were displayed there.

The Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag, which is, “I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all,” should be rendered by standing at attention facing the flag with the right hand over the heart. The same headdress rules apply for those not in uniform. Persons in uniform should remain silent, face the flag and render the military salute.

The flag is to be displayed from sunrise to sunset on buildings and stationary flagstaffs in the open. However, when a patriotic effect is desired, the flag may be displayed 24 hours if properly illuminated during the hours of darkness. The flag should be hoisted briskly and lowered ceremoniously, and should not be displayed on days when whether is inclement, except when an all-weather flag is used. The flag should be displayed on all days, especially holidays, on or near the main administration building of every public institution, in or near every polling place on election days, and during school days in or near every schoolhouse. The U.S. flag is a symbol of our great nation, and should always be treated with the greatest dignity and respect.

Now I have a question for everybody: The historic flag that flew over Pearl Harbor on Dec. 7, 1941 was displayed where on Aug. 14, 1945?

If anyone has any questions about the U.S. Flag Code, please call old Jesse at 553-3323 and I’ll answer your question. I hope to see a sea of red, white and blue on Sunday, June 14. I’d like to remind everyone about the VA workshop at the Veterans Center on Saturday, June 20 from 9 a.m. to noon, so write those questions down and bring them to the workshop for VA staff to answer. I hope everyone remembers that old Jesse loves all you beautiful people who call Molokai home, as I do.