Our flag deserves proper respect

To the editor:
    Congratulations and thank you to everyone who made the Independence Day weekend such a wonderful success. The town looked great; the parade, the craft show, the fair and the fireworks were wonderful. All of the flags flying along the main streets looked very patriotic. At the same time, I am concerned that we may be dishonoring our flag by using it in such a manner.
    I have seen flags being flown in the rain, and at night without proper lighting, as if the flag was merely a piece of decoration instead of the symbol of our country, which citizens have died to protect. In some towns I have even seen flags left hanging from only one grommet, flown until the ends are in tatters and lawn flags where the end of the flag is dragging on the ground. It seems to me that flying the flag under any of the above conditions dishonors the flag and those who have fought to protect the freedoms it represents.
    If we only want patriotic decoration, we can get red, white and blue bunting to display. If we want to fly our country’s flag however, then I believe we should also accept the responsibility to treat it with proper respect.
    If it is not possible for those who install the flags to treat the flags they fly with respect, then I suggest that next year, the flags be replaced with red, white and blue decorations for which no respect needs to be shown.
    Thank you for your consideration of this matter.
Fred Griffith
Houlton