Vino Alan is a wonderfully talented performer and his performance of “God Bless the USA” and the dedication of his performance to the military were inspiring and heartfelt. However, I am disturbed by his use of a representation of the US flag as a handkerchief. Flag etiquette states that our flag or a representation of our flag should not be used on clothing, which a handkerchief is. It clearly should not be used to wipe off sweat.

It is distressing to see Mr. Alan use a representation of our flag as a handkerchief to start with, but it seems just plain wrong to use it as such in a performance dedicated to the US military who fights for the very freedom the flag symbolizes and the freedom that allows him to pursue his dreams.

We have become very relaxed in the use of our flag in advertising, clothing, bedding, decorations, etc. While the US Supreme Court has ruled that the First Amendment of our Constitution permits us to desecrate the flag as our right to free speech, let’s take the time to carefully think through how we are using this symbol of our country and show the flag the respect it is due.

I have included more information about the flag and how it should not be used below. For those who are interested, the following website contains a wealth of information: http://www.ushistory.org/betsy/flagcode.htm

Are flags on T-shirts, ties, etc., really flags?

Yes. According to the Flag Code, a flag is anything “by which the average person seeing the same without deliberation may believe the same to represent the flag.”

The words “flag, standard, colors, or ensign”, as used herein, shall include any flag, standard, colors, ensign, or any picture or representation of either, or of any part or parts of either, made of any substance or represented on any substance, of any size evidently
purporting to be either of said flag, standard, colors, or ensign of the United States of America or a picture or a representation of either, upon which shall be shown the colors, the stars and the stripes, in any number of either thereof, or of any part or parts of either, by which the average person seeing the same without deliberation may believe the
same to represent the flag, colors, standard, or ensign of the United States of America.

Source: Flag Code, Section 3

Therefore, a flag includes any representation of it of any substance, with stars and stripes of any number. This would include T-shirts and ties.

Other references in the Flag Code relevant to this question are:

The flag should never be used as wearing apparel, bedding, or drapery. (section 8d)

It should not be embroidered on such articles as cushions or handkerchiefs and the like (section 8i)

[It should not be] printed or otherwise impressed on paper napkins or boxes (section 8i)

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. (section 8g)

No part of the flag should ever be used as a costume or athletic uniform. (section 8j)

The Flag Code states that the flag should never be worn. (Section 8d): “The flag should never be used as wearing apparel.”

good voice, but hate the way he presents himself, thats what’ll do him in..the slouching and hand gestures…silly..he’s a grown man, not some kid from the hood like what he appears to want to be