Up and Coming Weekly is a weekly publication in Fayetteville, NC and Fort Bragg, NC area offering local news, views, arts, entertainment and community event and business information.
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10 UCW MAY 26 - JUNE 1, 2021 WWW.UPANDCOMINGWEEKLY.COM NEWS JEFF THOMPSON, Reporter. COMMENTS? Editor@upandcomin- gweekly.com. 910-484-6200. May: A month of appreciation and remembrance by JEFF THOMPSON National Military Appreciation Month falls in May each year. As the title suggests, this obser- vance is meant to raise awareness and encour- age celebration and appreciation of those who serve — or who have served — in the Ameri- can armed forces. Every role in each military branch is honored this month, from the Army foot soldier to the Navy chef, from the Air Force navigator to the Marine general. is month is also meant to show appreciation of the families of servicemen and women who stand by and support their family members. Military Appreciation Month also honors the memory of military personnel who sacrificed their safety and ultimately their lives for the na- tion, and the veterans of wars who have passed on. Congress designated May as National Mili- tary Appreciation Month In 1999. It is a month- long celebration to show support and gratitude to those who sacrifice for our freedom. ese dedicated men and women spend extended pe- riods of time away from their families, miss out on their children's milestones, and sometimes lack access to things that many take for granted. May seemed to be the perfect month to of- ficially honor our service men and women because so many established military appre- ciation days already take place between May 1st and May 31st including Armed Forces Day, Military Spouse Appreciation Day and Memo- rial Day. Additionally, Loyalty Day was May 1st. May 2nd – May 7th was Public Service Recogni- tion Week. Military Apprecia- tion Month comes to an end on Memorial Day, previously called Decoration Day, which is observed on the last Monday of May. Memorial Day creates the perfect end to National Military Appreciation Month 2021, fall- ing on the last day of the month, May 31st. It is the only federal holiday on the list and is the most recognized day of military remembrance. Many people visit cemeteries and memorials on Memorial Day to honor and mourn those who died while serving in the U.S. military. Memorial Day is also considered the unofficial start of summer in the United States. Labor Day, the first Monday of September, marks the unofficial start of autumn. e red poppy has been a symbol of lives lost to war since World War I, and it plays a big part in the history of Memorial Day. e sale of red poppies benefits veterans associations and funds many charities and veterans causes. e poppy is worn in many of the countries that were Allied during World War I, including Great Britain, France, Belgium, Australia, New Zealand, Canada and the United States. In the spring of 1915, a Canadian artillery bri- gade surgeon, Lt. Col. John McCrae, saw bright red poppies blooming on the war-torn fields where so many soldiers had lost their lives. He was moved to write "In Flanders Fields." e poem begins "In Flanders fields the pop- pies blow between the crosses, row on row," and ends, "If ye break faith with us who die we shall not sleep, though poppies grow In Flan- ders fields." Patriotic events call for a refresher on flag facts, etiquette a STAFF REPORT e United States flag was first imagined after the signing of the Declaration of Independence in 1776. e Continental Congress authorized creation of the first national flag on June 14, 1777. It was decided that the flag should have 13 stripes, alternating red and white, to repre- sent the original 13 colonies, and that the new union be represented by 13 white stars in a blue field to signify a "new constellation." Francis Hopkinson, one of the signers of the Declara- tion of Independence, is most often credited with the original design. Today there are 50 stars on the flag to represent the 50 states, while the 13 stripes still represent the 13 British colonies that became the first states. While this may be common knowledge, Public Law 94-344, known as the Federal Flag Code, may not be as widely known. e code dictates that the flag is to be treated with respect and proper etiquette. e code is extensive, but the fol- lowing guidelines can help private individuals interested in displaying their flags do so in ac- cordance with the law. •Flags should only be displayed in public from sunrise to sunset, unless the flag can be properly illuminated during darkness. In this instance, it may be displayed at all times. •When displayed with other flags, such as on a single staff or lanyard, the U.S. flag should be above all other flags. If flags are displayed in a row, the U.S. flag goes to the observer's left. •State and local flags are traditionally flown lower than the American flag. •During marching ceremonies or parades with other flags, the U.S. flag should be to the observer's left. •e flag should be displayed at every public institution and at schools during school days. •When displayed vertically and not on a staff, the union should be on the left when observed. It should be suspended so its folds fall freely as though the flag were staffed. •e flag should be hoisted briskly and low- ered ceremoniously. •e flag is often displayed at half-staff on days of mourning, including Memorial Day. e flag should first be hoisted to the peak for an instant, then lowered to half-staff position, which is half the distance between the top and bottom of the staff. •On a vehicle, the U.S. flag should be dis- played from a staff firmly fixed to the chassis. It should not be draped over the hood, top, sides, or back of a vehicle. •e flag should never touch anything be- neath it, such as the ground, the floor, water, or merchandise. It also should never have any- thing placed on it. •A flag in poor condition should be destroyed with dignity, preferably by burning. Most American Legion, VFW posts and local Boy Scouts troops will have the resources to retire flags accordingly. Many will host annual flag retirement ceremonies on Flag Day.