Patriotism Alive and Well With Owensboro Businesses

A listener emailed commenting that many who proudly displayed the Stars and Stripes immediately after 9/11 had ended the practice. I decided to see if that was true.

I went out Thursday Morning (Oct. 6, 2011) after my morning radio show. Traffic going south on Frederica was light so that's how I turned. In the 45 minutes I drove around I covered a big part of Frederica and the surrounding area. I discovered that while some may have ended the practice of displaying our flag, others contine the practice and others had jumped on board. I identified over 60 flags during my time touring the city.

I noticed the shopping centers had less flag presence than individual businesses. Local as well as national stores displayed Old Glory with pride.

A few locations needed to either change out an old flag or fix a damaged flagpole. I am guessing that more than a few locations had flag displays damaged in the Ice Storm or from the wind and had not replaced them.

I am proud of the many folks who keep the flag a part of the landscape. It is almost impossible to drive around our town without seeing the Stars and Stripes. Many cities in America can't say that.

I also know that it takes only one person to ask why the flag is not displayed before ownership or management corrects the error. I love a great looking building and landscape design but the American Flag is always the icing on the cake.

If you or your business, school or church plans to display the Flag please review the proper way to do so. If the Flag is going to remain flying after dark it should be lit. The Flag is also to be given the place of honor over state, business or other flags. When torn or tattered it should be retired and disposed of in the proper way.

If the above rules simply cannot be followed it might be best for the organization or indivdual to NOT display one at all.

We must all remember the American Flag is the symbol of freedom the world over. It must always be displayed with pride and reverance.