Flag Etiquette?

[Victors87]

Hi all,

I am debating whether to purchase a NYCFC flag, so I can take on away games or wear it as a cape to home games. I saw one with the NYCFC logo imposed on an American Flag with changed colors "stars and stripes". Is this right? I had a buddy of mines who was in the Army and always told me that American flag you were supposed to respect it, and there were rules for it. And my grandfather who was also a military man, would mention the same.

Is it disrespectful? how about the NYC flag with the NYCFC logo on it, is that less disrespectful?

Thanks.

 

[EganSoccerWords]

If you care about flag code, the NYCFC American flag is a disfigured flag and against flag code. I don't think anyone cares if you disfigure the NYC flag. Most people don't even know that is NYC's flag. There are also a couple generic non government related flags.

 

[mgarbowski]

With respect to the US flag, I think it is probably outside the rules. There are various sources for Flag Etiquette, most of which agree with a few differences, but the most official is probably the Flag Code in the US statutory law. The American Legion sets it out here:
https://www.legion.org/flag/code
By the way, even though this is a real law it is not criminal to break any of these rules and you will notice most of them are written in for form of "should." But this is as official as it gets. Section 8 is the "Respect for the flag" section and it seems to suggest the flag and use you describe is wrong, including:
(b) The flag should never touch anything beneath it, such as the ground, the floor, water, or merchandise.
(d) The flag should never be used as wearing apparel, bedding, or drapery. It should never be festooned, drawn back, nor up, in folds, but always allowed to fall free.
(g) The flag should never have placed upon it, nor on any part of it, nor attached to it any mark, insignia, letter, word, figure, design, picture, or drawing of any nature.

My interpretation is that if you care to show the officially proper respect for the flag, and it seems you do, then that flag you are considering is improper.

I have no idea what rules exist, if any, for the NYC flag or city flags in general. Personally I would consider it more acceptable to treat the NYC flag in ways that are outside of official norms yet intended with respect than I would for the US flag. But I don't know if that is some internalized rule I made up or if there is an actual difference. I can't find any official or unofficial rules for city flags.

 

[Tom in Fairfield CT]

All that said, American soccer fans wear the flag and let it touch the ground all the time. No one is going to give you any problem with what ever you choose, its just your personal choice

 

[Fantazma]

Hi all,

I am debating whether to purchase a NYCFC flag, so I can take on away games or wear it as a cape to home games. I saw one with the NYCFC logo imposed on an American Flag with changed colors "stars and stripes". Is this right? I had a buddy of mines who was in the Army and always told me that American flag you were supposed to respect it, and there were rules for it. And my grandfather who was also a military man, would mention the same.

Is it disrespectful? how about the NYC flag with the NYCFC logo on it, is that less disrespectful?

Thanks.

every MLS team i think have a american flag version verrsion of it not just nycfc

i mean at US games i think people use it as bandana's to cover face and that is also against code i believe.

 

[SFphoto]

The flag code is, for all intents and purposes, a set of suggested guidelines. If we were going strictly by the code, the flag should never be used as decoration. A plastic cup with a flag on it? That's a code violation. Flag decorations at a rally? That's a code violation. Using it on any athletic uniform (pre 2015 MLS jerseys)? That's a code violation.

Do whatever you want!

<--- See my avatar

 

[FredMertz]

You're also not supposed to clap or cheer until the Star Spangled Banner is finished, but people do it anyway.

But seriously, my understanding of flag code is that if something doesn't have the right red, white and blue colors, it isn't an American flag, so you don't have to be concerned with flag code.

"The flag of the United States shall be thirteen horizontal stripes, alternate red and white; and the union of the flag shall be fifty stars, white in a blue field."

 

[roxfontaine]

All that said, IGNORANT American soccer fans wear the flag and let it touch the ground all the time. No one is going to give you any problem with what ever you choose, its just your personal choice

Fixed.

Don't disrespect any flag or anthem.