Did you know…?
• The U.S. flag, adopted on June 14, 1777, is the fourth oldest
national flag in the world. Denmark’s flag, adopted in 1219,
is the oldest;
• The blue field on the U.S. flag is called the “union;’
• June 14 was proclaimed Flag Day by President Woodrow
Wilson in 1916, however it did not receive its official
Congressional designation until 1949;
• The U.S. flag should always be displayed with the blue
union field up – never display the flag upside down, except
as a distress signal;
• On Memorial Day, to honor all who died in battle, the flag
should be displayed at half-staff until noon only, and then
raised to the top of the staff for the remainder of the day;
*Obtained from the National Flag Foundation. Additional
information can be found at www.americanflags.org
These are just a few of the facts
that were recently presented to a
very interested and
respectful group of
Jefferson Elementary
School fifth-grade
students and their teachers at Jefferson Elementary. On
January 14, 2014, members of the Mid-Mon Valley Shipmates
Flag Etiquette Committee had given a presentation on proper
etiquette of the American Flag.
The Shipmates, led by Marshall E. Lignian, is a dedicated
group of retired United States Navy personnel that travel to
area schools to educate students on the fascinating history
and proper etiquette of the United States flag. Throughout the
45-minute program, the Shipmates covered a wide range of
topics related to Old Glory, including;
• A brief history of the American Flag;
• The meaning of her appearance;
• Why the Flag has changed her appearance since her origin;
• How to properly display the American Flag in a variety of
settings;
• Items of respect and disrespect to the Flag;
• Items of respect for the Pledge of Allegiance;
• The origin, background, and respect for our National
Anthem;
• A demonstration by the veterans, with student assistance,
on the proper folding of the flag.
This interactive program also afforded the students the
opportunity to engage in rich discussions and ask questions
related to the United States Flag and the veterans’ service.
It is very easy to observe the seriousness Jefferson
Elementary School students take when handling and
displaying our Flag. At the beginning and end of
every school day, a dedicated group of Webelo Scouts
(Pack 712) — Raymond Sprites, Ethan Dunsey and Alexander
Folino — proudly raise, lower, and fold the United States Flag,
carefully adhering to those procedures that were reinforced
by the Mid-Mon Valley Shipmates during their visit to
Jefferson Elementary School.
On behalf of all students, staff and faculty at Jefferson
Elementary School, we are extremely grateful to all of our
service men and women for their sacrifices in order to protect
our freedoms.
West Jefferson Hills | Spring 2014 | icmags.com 41
W E ST JE FFE RSON HI L L S SC HOOL DI ST RIC T NE WS – J E FFE RS O N E LE M E N TARY S CH OO L
BY CHRISTOPHER VERY, PRINCIPAL, JEFFERSON ELEMENTARY SCHOOL
West Jefferson Hills
“What So Proudly We Hail…”