Kifowit Collects Flags in Honor of Veterans on Flag Day

AURORA, Ill. – In honor of Flag Day on June 14, state Rep. Stephanie Kifowit, D-Oswego, is offering tips on how to properly care for flags.  

“From our fight for independence, our flag has served as a symbol of freedom for people here at home and across the world,” Kifowit said. “It is important we respect the heritage of our flag for all it represents and those who served and died defending it.”

A veteran of the United States Marine Corps and an active member of the Roosevelt-Aurora American Legion Post 84, Kifowit is a strong advocate for veterans in the state capitol and encourages area residents to honor our country and military on Flag Day.

The United States Flag Code, enacted in 1942, specifies the proper procedure for handling and displaying of the flag, which includes:

• The flag should never be displayed upside down, except as a signal of dire distress in instances of extreme danger to life or property.
• The flag should never touch anything beneath it, such as the ground, the floor, water or merchandise.
• The flag should never be carried flat or horizontally, but always aloft and free.
• The flag should never be used as wearing apparel, bedding or drapery.
• Bunting of blue, white and red, always arranged with the blue above, the white in the middle and the red below, should be used for covering a speaker’s desk, draping in front of the platform and for a decoration in general.
• The flag should never be fastened, displayed, used or stored in such a manner as to permit it to be easily torn, soiled or damaged in any way.
• The flag should never be used as a covering for a ceiling.
• 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.
• The flag should never be used for advertising purposes in any manner whatsoever.
• The flag, when it is in such condition that it is no longer a fitting emblem for display, should be destroyed in a dignified way, preferably by burning.

Residents who would like to properly dispose of a flag may drop it off at Rep. Kifowit’s constituent service office, located at 1677 Montgomery Rd. Ste. 116 in Aurora. Office hours are 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday thru Thursday and 8:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Friday.

For more information, please contact Rep. Kifowit’s constituent service office at 630-585-1308 or email Stephanie.Kifowit@att.net.