Flag Day takes on new symbolism after 9/11

Thursday, June 13, 2002 | 9:16 a.m.

American flags no longer flutter in every other window, and people standing on corners waving Old Glory are rarely seen anymore, as they were in the weeks after Sept. 11.

But the surge of patriotism expressed after the terrorist attacks has given new significance to Flag Day this year. Sandwiched between Memorial Day and the Fourth of July, Flag Day is traditionally one of the lesser observed Americana events, marking the passage of the Flag Resolution of 1777, which determined the original form of the nation's flag.

With the holiday set for Friday, demand for patriotic items is high, local retailers say, and observances seem somehow more heartfelt, less hokey.

"This is not just about displaying flags -- that's just for show," said Las Vegas artist/poet Lorna Greene, who recently produced a series of paintings of the American flag accompanied by poems. "It is about how we as Americans are waving the flags inside of ourselves."

Tasya Mims, manager of Carlton Cards in the Galleria Mall in Henderson, shares that sentiment.

"I got swept up in the patriotic spirit after Sept. 11," Mims said. "I bought a flag pin and other things.

"I believe I am just as patriotic now. I just don't feel a need to display it like I did then."

Despite that change in the expression of patriotism, local stores report sales of flags and other patriotic items are remaining brisk.

"It's hard to tell if people are buying flags for Flag Day or for the Fourth of July, because both patriotic events are so close to each other," said Sharon Weber, spokeswoman for Wal-Mart, the nation's largest retailer.

"Our flag sales continue to be very impressive. (Also selling well are) lapel pins, ties and arts and crafts items -- anything patriotic. This shows us there remains a growing interest for our customers to express their patriotism."

Wal-Mart sold 115,500 American flags at its 2,780 U.S. outlets on Sept. 11 and 200,000 on Sept. 12, compared with 11,300 on Sept. 10. Also, between Sept. 11 and May 23 Wal-Mart sold 4,961,000 American flags (about 19,500 per day) compared to 1,180,000 between Sept. 11, 2000, and May 23, 2001 (about 4,250 per day).

Mims says patriotic cards and collectibles have grown from about 4 percent of her business to about 10 percent since Sept. 11. Still, she has had to discount some of the older, slower-moving patriotic stock by 50 to 75 percent.

"Some of it just stopped selling," Mims said. "But, when it comes to the more collectible items, the demand is still high."

Among such popular trinkets was the Willits "Star Spangled Banner" figurine shoe that quickly sold out for Mother's Day, she said.

Several public observances also are planned for this Flag Day, and maybe that's not surprising since Sept. 11 and the subsequent war on terrorism. Patriotism always swells in times of national crisis, Eric Johnson, commander of American Legion Post 8, said.

"Once in a while Americans have to be kicked in the pants to remind us not to take our freedom for granted," Johnson said. "We have seen these patriotic jolts after the Challenger explosion and during the Persian Gulf War. But Sept. 11 was an out-and-out attack on our nation, and we haven't forgotten that."

Among the observances, Post 8 has organized a traditional ceremony to burn or bury damaged American flags at 6 p.m. Friday, in its parking lot at 733 N. Veterans Memorial Drive. Protocol requires worn or damaged flags be disposed of by burning or burying, but only five tattered flags will be burned, Johnson said.

On past Flag Days, Post 8 burned hundreds of decaying flags. However, the post has paved its dirt parking lot and can no longer burn so many flags because the intense heat would melt the the asphalt, Johnson said.

Although Post 8 will continue to accept unusable flags, it recommends that such banners be sent to the Southern Nevada Veterans Memorial Cemetery for proper disposal. The Boulder City facility burns the used flags each May.

Other Flag Day events: