I keep reading letters referring to "United States Flag Code
violators," so I figured I should read the Flag Code for myself. I read
it in its entirety and found nothing at all that precludes the action
that Mayor Gus Gomez took in declaring that the flag be flown at
half-staff.
The code specifies that the president or a state governor may declare
that a flag be flown at half-staff, but nowhere does it say that these
are the only officials who may make such a declaration. And contrary to
what several writers have said, the flag may indeed be lowered to honor
foreigners. Specifically, to quote US Code, Title 36, Chapter 10, Section
175 m: o7 "In the event of the death of other officials or foreign
dignitaries, the flag is to be displayed at half-staff according to
Presidential instructions or orders, or in accordance with recognized
customs or practices not inconsistent with law.f7 "
As far as I know, the copy I have of the flag code is complete, but if
any enlightened readers know of some law that specifically forbids a
mayor from declaring a flag to be lowered to half staff, or a law that
forbids the flag to be lowered as a remembrance to a genocide, they
should quote it word-for-word, as I have. Otherwise, they should forsake
this campaign to defame Mayor Gomez.
In my opinion, their actions have shown much more disrespect for the
flag than any action he has taken.
Steve Mills
Glendale
