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Across the Fence:  Is the American Flag "Seasonal?"  |
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JessieMae
True Blue Farmgirl
702 Posts
Jessie
Raleigh
North Carolina
USA
702 Posts |
 Posted - Sep 05 2010 : 5:51:24 PM
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This afternoon I remembered I needed to buy a new American flag for the house for Labor Day (the last one got stolen right off the pole the night of the 4th of July...how patriotic!  ). I went to the neighborhood hardware store, but they had closed early and are closed tomorrow, too. Walgreens didn't have one, and I didn't want to go to Wal-Mart, so I settled for the "lesser of two evils" and went to K-Mart.
After going through the whole store without success, I found an associate to ask where I might find one. She looked thoughtful for a moment and then said, "American flags are a seasonal item, so we don't generally stock them in the fall. But there might be one or two left in the garden center." So she opened up the closed-for-the-season garden center so we could look, and sure enough, there was only two or three dusty flags left on a display. (And, incidentally, they were really poor quality...screen-printed instead of stitched, and with a sleeve that goes over the pole instead of being attached to it with grommets.
Am I making too much of this, or does it seem REALLY wrong that the American flag is considered a "seasonal decoration?" I mean, flag etiquette allows (in fact, requires!) the flag to be displayed on other holidays than Memorial Day and the 4th of July, like Christmas Day, Columbus Day, etc. What do you think? Am I taking this too personally?
And after wasting $19.99 on a junky one, I'm off to find something nicer at Vermont Country Store or Lehman's or something.
Jessie Mae
Farmgirl Sisterhood #134 |
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acairnsmom
True Blue Farmgirl
1319 Posts
audrey
cheyenne
wy
1319 Posts |
Posted - Sep 05 2010 : 7:20:33 PM
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No I don't think you're taking this too personally. My DH and I ran into this a couple of years ago, needing to replace a worn flag and took us forever to find one. I think it's a disgrace that these stores see them as mere decorations only fit for sale during the garden season, right along with the "welcome to the garden" flags. Shoot, you can display an American Flag 24/7 provided you do it correctly and we all probably should! We do live in America after all and we should be proud to display her flag.
Audrey
Toto, we're not in Kansas any more! |
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urban chickie
True Blue Farmgirl
734 Posts
Catherine
Niles
IL
USA
734 Posts |
Posted - Sep 05 2010 : 7:26:35 PM
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I do not see how you can blame the stores....they base all their merchandising on consumer demands. Flags do not sell very well most of the year, so they are limited to the time of year they sell the most. It's really a limited window for about 95% of flag sales. I can assert this for my area at least, as I work retail and we sell flags :)
I think the shame is on the American public, who do not seem nearly as interested in displaying their flag as previous generations. I see more Mexican and Polish flags around here than I do American.....I am a rather ethnically diverse mutt myself so it's not the display of one's heritage that I find annoying but rather the lack of display for the country that is supporting us in every way. It sort of makes me sad.
Catherine
Farmgirl #1370
City Girl By Birth,
Suburbanite By Location,
Farmgirl at Heart
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JessieMae
True Blue Farmgirl
702 Posts
Jessie
Raleigh
North Carolina
USA
702 Posts |
Posted - Sep 05 2010 : 8:09:56 PM
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I was really surprised when someone stole my flag right off the side of the house! It seemed a little sacreligious...something like stealing a Blessed Mother statue out of someone's garden. There are some things you just DON'T do! My street in town is pretty "into" displaying the flag. There's a lot of historic homes on this street, and they do flags, buntings...the whole nine yards.
Jessie Mae
Farmgirl Sisterhood #134 |
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coloquilter
True Blue Farmgirl
214 Posts
Susan
Co
USA
214 Posts |
Posted - Sep 05 2010 : 11:20:08 PM
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In the world of big box retail, Yes an American flag is seasonal. I think your best bet is a Mom and Pop Hardware store on Tuesday.
Several years ago,for an eagle scout project a young man started a flag project. It started small.For a full year, for all the flag days holidays, he posted flags every few yards along both sides of one block the main street . The VFW ,American Legion,and downtown merchants have helped it to grow. Now the main street north and south has 2 blocks and east and west has about a mile.It's really very pretty when the flags are all flying |
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nut4fabric
True Blue Farmgirl
885 Posts
Kathy
Morgan Hill
CA
USA
885 Posts |
Posted - Sep 06 2010 : 08:14:10 AM
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Even though I hate Walmart they do have flags year round and I have had to resort to buying there to get one. So I guess there is one good thing to say for Walmart
Kathy |
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harmonyfarm
True Blue Farmgirl
785 Posts
Debbie
Southeastern
Ohio
USA
785 Posts |
Posted - Sep 07 2010 : 09:47:25 AM
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Is the American flag seasonal? Is Patriotism seasonal?
We fly our flag 365 days a year!
Debbie
"If you can't find the time to do it right...how will you find the time to do it over" |
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Fiddlehead Farm
True Blue Farmgirl
4562 Posts
Diane
Waupaca
WI
USA
4562 Posts |
Posted - Sep 07 2010 : 09:53:38 AM
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We also fly our flag 365 days a year! With a light on it at night. I also replace it whenever it needs to be. I remember after 9/11 you could not find a flag to buy in any store because they were sold out. Everyone was flying one, what happened? Do we need to be attacked to become patriotic and fly our flag? Seems that a lot of Americans have a short memory. I for one, am proud to be American and don't mind showing it!
http://studiodiphotosite.shutterfly.com/
farmgirl sister #922
Happy to be a "Raggedy Ann" in a Barbie World! |
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Karrieann
True Blue Farmgirl
1900 Posts
Karrieann
Northeast
Georgia
USA
1900 Posts |
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solilly
True Blue Farmgirl
726 Posts
Lillian
Williamsburg
Virginia
USA
726 Posts |
Posted - Sep 07 2010 : 11:15:44 AM
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We fly ours 365 days a year both of our dads served in the service. We had had one every day sence 1981. Lilly 
learning the life I always wanted. |
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acairnsmom
True Blue Farmgirl
1319 Posts
audrey
cheyenne
wy
1319 Posts |
Posted - Sep 07 2010 : 11:53:52 AM
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Karrieann, that's a great site. Thanks for the link. I know where I'll be buying my next flag.
Audrey
Toto, we're not in Kansas any more! |
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Faransgirl
True Blue Farmgirl
895 Posts
Beth
Houston
Texas
USA
895 Posts |
Posted - Sep 13 2010 : 2:18:20 PM
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We fly our flag 365 days a year as well. When it gets tattered we replace it. We also display one in the family room. My husband is a Viet Nam Vat, my Dad is a Korea Vet and his Dad a WWII vet. Our flag flies all the time and I do not believe that Patriotism should be seasonal. Unfortunately though it is.
Farmgirl Sister 572
When manure happens just say "WOO HOO Fertilizer". |
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knitnpickinatune
True Blue Farmgirl
1140 Posts
Sherrie
Gardena
California
USA
1140 Posts |
Posted - Sep 13 2010 : 3:34:20 PM
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Next time you're wanting a flag & can wait a week for one,try browsing eBay! I've found not only good quality but a wonderful selection of historical flags,like Benningtons,Betsy Ross,so on & so forth.
http://www.mandolinbabe.info
http://www.mandolinbabe.net
http://www.mandolinbabe.biz (Etsy Store)
@MandolinChick on Twitter
mando pickin,uke strummin, & fiddle sawin' Farmgirl #702 |
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JessieMae
True Blue Farmgirl
702 Posts
Jessie
Raleigh
North Carolina
USA
702 Posts |
Posted - Sep 13 2010 : 11:09:48 PM
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Not to beat a dead horse, but I was at Jo-Ann Fabrics this past week, and they had American flags (cheap ones, but flags still) with the summer clearance stuff. 40% off.
Jessie Mae
Farmgirl Sisterhood #134 |
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SusanScarlet
True Blue Farmgirl
317 Posts
317 Posts |
Posted - Sep 14 2010 : 12:57:50 PM
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| You can order one that has flown over the capital through your Senator/Congressman. They have different sizes. Made in America. Wide range of prices. Comes with a certificate. The flag is definitely not seasonal at our home --- my husband served in the Army almost 33 years. |
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prairie_princess
True Blue Farmgirl
613 Posts
Elizabeth
Carpenter
WY
USA
613 Posts |
Posted - Sep 14 2010 : 5:32:25 PM
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I think Debbie said it best... Patriotism is not seasonal, so flying the flag shouldn't be, either. We bought ours at Wal-Mart, which supposedly sells them year round. We also bought the brand Annin, which is made in America. You can check out their website:
http://www.annin.com/
"Only two things that money can't buy, that's true love and homegrown tomatoes."
- Guy Clark
"The man who has planted a garden feels he has done something for the good of the world."
- Charles Dudley Warner |
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CCChristen
True Blue Farmgirl
180 Posts
Cynthia
Lockwood
CA
USA
180 Posts |
Posted - Sep 15 2010 : 06:51:26 AM
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We fly our flag with pride 365 days a year 24/7 at night our flag is lite with a light.
God Bless the USA.
Line Shack Farmgirl #1570
Cynthia
Happy Trails |
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Across the Fence: Is the American Flag "Seasonal?" |
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Is the American Flag "Seasonal?"
