Upside down flag

[PARAGON]

Reading CP's little excursion reminded me of our trip down to the farm yesterday. We have to drive through several podunk towns to get to the land and as we come through this one "town" (it used to be a town, it barely has one gas station now and nothing else except the post office).

The post office shares the same building as the Mason's meeting place. Well, there's a flag pole there and it's in a 90 degree turn. As we come around the turn the flag catches my eye and as we drive by something made me stop. I asked Mrs.ssippi to look at the flag again because I think it was upside down. It was wrapped around the pole but was indeed upside down.

I immediately started turning the truck around saying something must be wrong. She asks what I was talking about and I tell her that the flag flying upside down is a sign of distress but as I say it and am turning around, logic starts kicking in. Podunk town, post office...... exactly what kind of distress could be going on that would allow someone to go outside, lower the flag, unhook it, and then raise it back again, UPSIDE DOWN.

Anyway, I send her inside to tell the mail clerk they put the flag up upside down and some idiot was in there getting his mail and said, "Oh yeah, I noticed that."

Afterwards, I've mentioned it to others and they've all said they thought that flying the flag upside down was a sign of disrespect, even my Dad who served 20 years in the Army. My immediate thought was danger until reason kicked in. Guess they don't teach soldiers the same things they teach Marines.

[DennisAJC]

Our flag looks the same upside down.

[DRTYFN]

Originally Posted by DennisAJC

Our flag looks the same upside down.

Your flag looks like a red chocolate starfish.

[h2co-pilot]

Afterwards, I've mentioned it to others and they've all said they thought that flying the flag upside down was a sign of disrespect, even my Dad who served 20 years in the Army. My immediate thought was danger until reason kicked in. Guess they don't teach soldiers the same things they teach Marines. [/quote]

I thought it meant disrespect too. My first thought when reading your post was that you stumbled upon some kind of Waco militia rebel town.

[Andy C]

Our flag really does look the same upside down.

[Andy C]

Originally Posted by PARAGON

I immediately started turning the truck around saying something must be wrong. She asks what I was talking about and I tell her that the flag flying upside down is a sign of distress but as I say it and am turning around, logic starts kicking in. Podunk town, post office...... exactly what kind of distress could be going on that would allow someone to go outside, lower the flag, unhook it, and then raise it back again, UPSIDE DOWN.

Anyway, I send her inside to tell the mail clerk they put the flag up upside down and some idiot was in there getting his mail and said, "Oh yeah, I noticed that."

Afterwards, I've mentioned it to others and they've all said they thought that flying the flag upside down was a sign of disrespect, even my Dad who served 20 years in the Army. My immediate thought was danger until reason kicked in. Guess they don't teach soldiers the same things they teach Marines.

Good call there Marine - send in the expendables first.

[f5fstop]

Flying the US Flag upside down has always indicated a sign of distress, and I believe it is so for all countries that have the intelligence to issue a set of rules/regulations for flying their flags. Throughout history, it has been noted that ships will fly the flag upside down in distress if they are sinking; provided they have time to turn the flag upside down before the ship goes down.
If I saw a Post Office flying a flag upside down, and no one was going postal, I would contact the local postal inspector immediately, take a photo, and have the idiot fired who raised the flag.


From the source:

UNITED STATES CODE, TITLE 4--FLAG AND SEAL, SEAT OF GOVERNMENT, AND THE STATES, CHAPTER ONE-THE FLAG, SEC 8. RESPECT FOR FLAG.
No disrespect should be shown to the flag of the United States of
America; the flag should not be dipped to any person or thing.
Regimental colors, State flags, and organization or institutional flags
are to be dipped as a mark of honor.
(a) The flag should never be displayed with the union down, except as a signal of dire distress in instances of extreme danger to life or property.

Those idiot kids who flew the flag upside down, with a Mexican flag on top of the pole, a few weeks ago during the demonstrations, did not know, or didn't care, that it is actually a sign of distress. Then again, these people actually think that CA belongs to Mexico.

[Andy C]

Originally Posted by f5fstop

I believe it is so for all countries that have the intelligence to issue a set of rules/regulations for flying their flags. Throughout history, it has been noted that ships will fly the flag upside down in distress if they are sinking; provided they have time to turn the flag upside down before the ship goes down.

This must be why so many Scottish ships never get rescued when they are sinking - we have the gudlines - we just dont have the right flag for the job.

[PARAGON]

Originally Posted by Andy C

Good call there Marine - send in the expendables first.

I was wondering if someone would catch that. I was staying back in a command and control position with my reinforcements (5yo and 1yo daughters and 3yo GSD) until the threat was verified and indentified.

[KenP]

Originally Posted by f5fstop

Then again, these people actually think that CA belongs to Mexico.

It doesn't?