Sequestration - Start the Layoffs in Vallejo, CA - Please

[ExpeditionImports]

So I already live in the #6th most miserable city in America according to Forbes. However, apparently we should also be considered the most stupid city in America as well.

So about 3:00pm I walk out of my shop and notice that the National Guard Armory flags are wrong. CA Flag flying on top of U.S. Flag. U.S. Flag hung upside down. So I walk over to the armory and ring the bell. The enlisted comes out and I politely point out that the flags need to be fixed. (keep in mind this wasn't a prank as the lines are inside a locked flag pole.) I am told they will take care of it.

About 10 minutes later I look out and notice that the American Flag is Right Side Up, But still Flying UNDER the CA Flag. I walk over and ring the bell. Same enlisted comes out and asks what the problem is. I explain that the U.S. Flag should be at the top and CA under. He apologizes and says he will take care of it.

About 10 Minutes later I look out and we now have the U.S. Flag at the top of the pole, with the CA Flag upside down. I walk over and flag down the COMMANDER who calls out the enlisted and asks him what is wrong with the flags. "are they supposed to be at half mast..." Commander - "Look at the flags..." enlisted "is it hanging wrong..." Commander, moves back enlisted 10 steps and asks him to look again. Enlisted: "there is nothing wrong with the flags..." Commander: "Look at the State Flag." Enlisted: "No one showed me how to put up the flag..." Commander: "Drop and give me 30"

Had I not personally witnessed this I would have thought it was a joke. They talk about sequestration.....please start the layoffs in Vallejo!

Cheers,

Scott

[4x4Pinz]

Good on you Scott. Most would have not even noticed the flags being wrong. When I was a leader in the Boy Scouts it was amazing to find the number of boys and parents that had no clue about the flag and how, where and when it was to be flown.

I have a friend that is a commander in an MI unit. I am going to show him your post. His response should be interesting.

[berger]

Wow! I have always respected the appreciation for the flag in the US.

I remember when the Canadian Flag was flown upside down during the World Series in 1992...I also remember most Americans not understanding why Canadians were upset.....

[4x4Pinz]

Scott, as I think about it, you should have grabbed an evil black rifle and burst into the building. When asked what was going on tell them you thought they were in distress as they had the flag upside down. Wonder what the republic of California would have had to say about that.

[krick3tt]

Thank you Scott. I have had a wonderful day and you have added the cherry to the top. Much appreciated.

Morris

[totaljoint]

Scott: So glad you took the pictures. See what happens when the Army gets rid of their Pinzgauers? Be careful though, you may find yourself on some Homeland Security subversive list, as you have military vehicles and show a troubling patriotic streak.

"No one showed me how to put up the flag..." Commander: "Drop and give me 30"

Maybe I've been away from military etiquette for a while, but does anyone believe that someone who passes basic training in any branch of the armed services was not taught how to fly a flag? 30 push ups, that will fix it.

And speaking of 30, isn't the gas tax in CA supposed to go up by about that amount? ..... to leading the US with a total of 70.1 cents a gallon as of July 1?
Better get my Sierra trip in before then!

[GenevaPinz]

Thanks for posting pictures, it's incredible the enlisted got it wrong 3 times in a row...
They can add a "raising the flag by trial-and-error" chapter in military manuals, now.

Switzerland addressed this issue in a pragmatic way: our flag is completely symmetrical, and (officially) it is square, not rectangular, so a drunk retarded soldier could fly it on its side, nobody would ever notice...

[HawaiianGauer]

Aloha Scott-

As a guy approaching his 27th anniversary of total Army service, imagine my embarrassment at this story... Truth be told, flag rules are not a part of basic (or any other) training. Troops learn when tagged with performing whatever flag-related additional duty, like raising/recovering it.

More bad news: you said this was a Guard installation...it's possible sequestration won't effect them (Guard has different pots of money - State & Fed).

I can only pray that CDR did more than drop homie for some push-ups (ie - send him to his 1SG for re-training) AND recruitment standards go back up...

thanks for getting our flag fixed!

[McCall Pinz]

Talk about old-school. We learned about flags in 6th grade so that you could have the privilege of raising and lowering them at school for a week or setting up for an assembly.

[krick3tt]

In grade school we learned about flags. When I went to a Rotary conference in Spain years ago there were so many countries that the colors were
dazzling. In the military we learned how to fold the flag for funerals and now I have the one that was on my Dad's coffin when he was placed in the
cemetery at Fort Rosecrans in San Diego.