AD Hoc Flag Etiquette Committee Our Assignment: - Review Our Tradition of Half-Staffing the American Flag Upon Death of a Member & Proper Flag Etiquette Our Intent Today (Breakfast W/ Bridge): - Review What We Have Learned - Encourage Comments & Feedback From Members For Benefit of Board & Bridge Committee Members: Doug Henrikson Ken Klett P/C Russ Oberg Al Teel
Flag Tradition Options to Consider : 1) Continue Current Tradition of Half-Masting the American Flag 2) Adopt American Flag Code – Half-Mast the QCYC Burgee Only 3) Adopt a Revised Tradition to Honor American Flag Etiquette & Honor Deceased Members A) Adopt a Special Burgee signifying a Member Death B) Half Mast a Burgee on the US Flag Halyard C) Half Mast a Burgee & Black Streamer on the RH Yard/Spreader D) Burgee & Black Streamer at Top of RH Yard Spreader
Honoring Deceased Citizens – Allowing Half-Mast Burgee Virtually all websites concur with Chapman’s: “A flag is flown at half-mast (or half-staff) in respect for a deceased person. Although there are no laws governing the half-masting of flags on private vessels, or at private homes and clubs, most citizens follow the flag display customs that are used on U.S. Government buildings and ships. The only authorities who can direct that the U.S. ensign be flown at half-mast are the President and the governor of a state, territory or possession. The duration varies from a day or so up to 30 days, determined by the deceased person's position. It is not correct for a yacht club Commodore, or official of a similar organization, to order the U.S. ensign to be flown at half-mast to honor a deceased member -- only the burgee or organization flag may be half-masted. On Memorial Day, the U.S. flag is flown at half-mast until 1220, the time of the final gun of the traditional 21-gun salute commencing at noon. ……….. Some yacht clubs follow the practice of flying the burgee at half-mast for a period of mourning on the death of a club member. Honoring Deceased Citizens - Allowing Half-Mast Flag This was found on one web site: “In additional to the traditional half-staff salutes when proclaimed by the President, the Flag Code mentions the use of our Flag for honoring citizens who have died, especially government officials and prominent citizens. However, the Flag Code does not exclude any citizen, whether they belong to an organization or not, whether they are recognized very locally or regionally. Examples of deceased citizens that might be honored with by lowering the Flag to half-staff include local religious leaders, youth leaders, honored teachers or sports coaches, local politicians, or a local hero. There need be no authorization from the government for the private sector (non- government) to use the Flag to honor any citizen. It is important to note that the Flag Code is a code, not a Law, it is intended to provide guidance and is not obligatory. It carries no civil or criminal penalties for "misuse" of the Flag. Individual are not acting illegally when using the Flag according to their own usage. Only on government / public building is the flag code required to be followed.”
Memorial Burgee Concept
Option 3B: Burgee on Flag Halyard
Option 3C Burgee/Streamer Half-Masted on RH Yard/Spreader
Option 3D: Burgee @ Top RH Yard
Website Resources
Discussion, Comments & Feedback • Several positive and constructive comments and suggestions were made relative to the options. • The concept of a “Memorial Burgee” received several positive comments • Option 3D was suggested • Lowering the US Flag to half-mast (Option 1 our current tradition) only for Veterans was suggested • It was suggested that options be put to a vote of the membership • It was agreed that this Power Point file would be put on QCYC web site for further review and to collect comments from members • Commodore Jennerich advised further discussion and review would be held.
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