Posted June 30, 2015

 

I've been out of the loop … have flags been in the news lately? Kidding, of course. I’ll let others argue the hotly debated Confederate flag and rainbow flag issues, but this week I’d like to return to my thoughts from a year ago this week, when the United States was preparing to celebrate its independence. Namely, I'd like to revisit the American flag.

 

Last July, I reported that the majority of U.S. flags are made here, though statistics are difficult to ascertain as private companies are under no obligation to reveal their numbers. Yet, in 2013, the last year data was released, I wrote that $4 million in U.S. flags were imported here from other countries, with China manufacturing more than 90 percent of those, according to the Flag Manufacturers Association of America (FMAA). For whatever reason, those figures still have not been updated, but I’d hazard to guess that number hasn’t fallen drastically.

 

It continues to gall me that we import American flags, whatever the percentage. I’m not a closed-borders guy, but I do believe our country should require the Stars and Stripes, if anything, to be made in America. I would find it difficult to wave Old Glory with pride if it contained a “Made in China” sticker. Wouldn’t you?

 

There is some encouraging news, though. In February, Rep. Cheri Bustos introduced H.R. 916 requiring U.S. flags bought by the federal government be made in America. The legislation has since been referred to the House Committee on Oversight and Government, where it’s apparently languishing for now. And in May, the Department of Defense issued new rules requiring that all American flags at U.S. military bases around the world be made in America. Plus, earlier this month, Florida Gov. Rick Scott signed a law requiring cities, counties and the state of Florida to purchase state and American flags made in the U.S.

 

That’s movement in the right direction.

 

Now, it would be difficult to issue such a mandate for retailers – and I’m hardly proposing that because I believe the government overreaches too much already – but it would be nice to see merchants show a little patriotism, at least on this one matter. And a majority of consumers would much rather purchase American-made products than imported goods, according to a recent survey by Consumer Reports.

 

So as you celebrate the Fourth of July this weekend, take a moment to wave your (hopefully) made-in-America flag. And try to really ponder its symbolism. The American flag embodies all the freedoms we have – the freedom to speak out and to worship as we see fit; the freedom to defend liberty over tyranny; the freedom to protect one’s life and property; the freedom to limit the power of our government.

 

Let freedom ring with those broad stripes and bright stars.