Dr. Thomas Byrd caused a stir of controversy in Michigan when he flew the American flag upside down in front of his office. Some people originally mistook this as a sign of disrespect for the flag and the nation, but those people are apparently unfamiliar with flag etiquette.
The U.S.Flag Code (USC Title 4, Chapter 1, Section 8) states:
(a) The flag should never be displayed with the union down, except as a signal of dire distress in instances of extreme danger to life or property.
Dr. Byrd asked himself what the state of our nation at this time was. He explained “I thought that she’s in distress. So, I thought I would flip the flag in the long-standing sign of distress. And by inverting the flag I would perhaps get a few people to ask themselves maybe the same question. How is the Constitution doing? How is my liberty? How is my freedom compared to a few years ago?”
The doctor remarked on the controversy this caused, “A lot of people misunderstood and somehow thought I had some beef with the United States or that I… disrespected the flag or the country, and that couldn’t be further from the truth.”
When I look at this once great nation my assessment is much the same as Dr. Byrd’s. Perhaps Dr. Byrd, an eye doctor, will help the entire nation to see it’s situation better.
