Labor Day is another reason
to fly Old Glory

Before all of the flower, bunny, birthday and holiday flags become a home decorating fashion item with so many homeowners, there was just the Stars and Stripes to hang out on special days.

There are places where the nation’s flag flies 24 hours a day, every day, by Executive Order, including the Iwo Jima Memorial, Valley Forge, Fort McHenry, the Jenny Wade House, and the USS Arizona Memorial at Pearl Harbor. For you Grand Old Flag fans, here is a complete month-by-month list of U.S. flag-flying holidays our federal government encourages you to hoist the star-spangle banner:

New Year’s Day, Jan. 1, Iauguration Day, Jan. 20; Lincoln’s Birthday, Feb 12; Washington’s Birthday, third Monday in February; Easter Sunday; Mother’s Day (sorry, dad); Armed Forces Day, third Saturday in May; Memorial Day (half-staff until noon), last Monday in May; Flag Day, June 14; Independence Day, July 4; Labor Day, first Monday in September; Constitution Day, Sept. 17; Columbus Day, second Monday in October; Navy Day, Oct. 27; Veterans Day, Nov. 11 (this is the day my super big, 48-star flag was ripped from my house wall. It has the history of that flag since 1957 written on the band. There is still a reward if you find it in your garage. I would love it back, even a bit torn.); Thanksgiving Day, fourth Thursday in November; Christmas Day, Dec 25; California admission day and state holidays.

I also fly the flag on Cary Grant’s birthday, family birthdays, and other days I deem historically significant. If you want to know why Ms. Jenny Wade hoists a flag at her home 24 hours every day, as well as find out everything you ever wanted to know about our flag, go to www.ushistory.org and click on the "Betsy Ross" homepage.

Bob Raser

Westlake Village