Research - Rehabilitation - Re-Employment

Sgt. Shaft 01/21/2002

Dear Sgt. Shaft:
I am sending warm regards and encouragement for your task of educating the Congress, judges, lawyers, liberals, and especially all forms of the media, that our nation’s flag is sacred and not to be defiled.

The symbol of a once great nation must not be allowed to go down in degradation and defamation.

Thank you for all of your efforts and those of the many others who share your position on this vital issue.

M.E.L.
Col., USA (Ret.)
Arlington, VA

Dear M.E.L.:
Just as the cross and Star of David are unique symbols of Christianity and Judaism, so too is Old Glory a unique symbol of the United States and its citizens. I am happy to report that the Vermont legislature has now joined our nation’s other 49 states in calling on Congress for passage of a constitutional amendment which would permit Congress to pass legislation to prohibit the physical desecration of Old Glory.

“With all 50 states calling for passage of this amendment, 80% of the American people behind it in poll after poll, and passage of the flag protection amendment in the House of Representatives last March, U.S. Senators should now get the message loud and clear to pass the amendment now, send it back to the states and let the people decide,” said Richard J. Santos, national commander of the 2.8 million-member American Legion. "There can be no finer tribute to our fellow Americans who died in the Attack on America on Sept. 11 than to pass an amendment in their memory.”

Many like Santos urge the U.S. Senate to heed the will of the people from every state in the Union and pass the amendment now. “Such an amendment will forever ensure that Old Glory, the very symbol of America, shall be given the protection that it so richly deserves," he added. “What a great way to show our unity as a nation during this time of national crisis, honor our men and women in uniform fighting the war under our flag, and teach our children the values we hold so dear."

Passage of the measure by the U.S. Senate in the 107th Congress will return it to the states for debate. Ratification by 38 states would make it the 28th amendment that reads, "The Congress shall have power to prohibit the physical desecration of the flag of the United States."

Some persons believe the Constitution should not be amended, in this case to protect the flag. If there were no amendments to our Constitution, today we would still have slavery and women would not have the right to vote.

The U.S. Supreme Court overturned five previous courts and over a hundred years of jurisprudence in 1989 when it ruled that physically desecrating the U.S. Flag was considered "free speech" protected under the First Amendment. . In Justice Stevens’ dissenting view in Texas v. Johnson (491 U.S. 397, 1989), he writes: “ … sanctioning the public desecration of the flag will tarnish its value—both for those who cherish the ideas for which it waves and for those who desire to don the roles of martyrdom by burning it.”

Perhaps the most recent large-scale desecration of the flag occurred in 1996 as part of a Phoenix, AZ, art exhibit entitled “Old Glory: The American Flag in Contemporary Art.” (Perhaps they should have changed the title to read “Contemptible Art.”) Reported in The Phoenix Gazette, that exhibit featured the following “art works”: the American flag stuffed in a toilet; a headless crucifix with the American flag in the background; an American flag made out of human hair and skin; a man dressed in Ku Klux Klan garb holding a baby painted onto an American flag; the flag laid out on the floor in order for people to trample upon it; and an American flag with a lighter on top, accompanied by the words, “Now more fun than ever.” The exhibit sparked national controversy, including a demonstration by thousands demanding the exhibit’s removal. Senators, stop this type of abuse of our sacred symbol.

Shaft Kudos
The Sarge was pleased to join the Fleet Reserve Association (FRA) at it recently honored U.S. Senator John Warner (R-VA) with presentation of their Pinnacle Award. The FRA established the Pinnacle Award in 1996 to honor civilian and military leaders who have distinguished themselves, above all others through their contributions to improve the quality of life of active duty, reserve, and retired Sea Service Personnel and their families. Past recipients of the Pinnacle Award include Senators John McCain (AZ), Strom Thurmond, (SC), Ted Stevens (AK), and Representatives Owen Pickett (VA) and G.V. “Sonny Montgomery. As chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee, Senator Warner was instrumental in advancing FA’s successful campaign to repeal the REDUX retirement program. More recently, the former Secretary of the Navy supported pay reform for mid-career non-commissioned officers and petty officers, and sponsored the Tricare-For-Life measure which gives Medicare-eligible retirees the option to participate in Tricare Prime or use Tricare Standard (formerly CHAMPUS) as a second payer to Medicare. The Senator is an honorary member of FRA Kempsville, VA, Branch 99. “FRA has worked closely with Senator Warner over the years on numerous important military issues,” said Chuck Caulkins, FRA’s national executive secretary. “He has been a champion of the active duty, reserve, and retired community throughout his tenure in public service, and he has been a loyal ally in helping FRA bring the enlisted perspective to Capitol Hill.” The federally-charted FRA is the oldest, largest military association representing the concerns of enlisted Sea Service personnel. FRA works to safeguard and enhance military pay, health care and benefits by representing the concerns of its 145,000 members before Congress and appropriate federal agencies. For more information on FRA and its legislative agenda, visit the Association’s web site at www.fra.org.

Send letters to Sgt. Shaft, c/o John Fales, P.O. Box 65900, Washington, D.C. 20035-5900; fax to 301-622-3330; call 202-462-4430 or email sgtshaft@bavf.org.

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