Which flag

[Drac]

Good day all,

I'm checking on a the various forums I participate on. There also seems to be a large number of military people here.

I've been running a project for many years where I have a flag that had flown over the ship I was on during Desert Storm. Since then it has been flying over various historic ships, sites and monuments. Over 40 to date with some being really special.

I had always planned to use this flag when I retire for my box.

Now comes the problem. My Grandfather's body had passed on recently (he had alztimers so he had died many years before that) and he had a military funeral as a WWII Navy Vet. My mother wishes to give the flag to me since I am the only living person in the family with military let alone Navy. I will be getting it when I go home for a visit in a couple weeks. I was unable to attend the funeral.

Now I am torn between which flag to use. I have a little time (3 years) before the day.

Seeing if any of you have been in a similar position? I also have his Dress Blue jumper as well as his original ribbons.

Thanks for your help,
Jim

[Lyle1]

The flags that are used on coffins are not the same as the flag that was flown on a ship The proportions on a flag made to use on a coffin are quite different. A flag for a coffin is narrower and longer than a normal flag; flags for coffins are cut long enough to cover the length of a coffin, and only wide enough to cover the coffin from side to side. If the normal length to width proportions were used, a flag long enough to cover the length of the coffin would drag on the ground at the sides of the coffin.

[Chas]

If it were me I would use your flag - for the simple reason that it is your flag. It is imbued with your experiences and should, quite rightly, follow your career.

Your mother has put you, unfairly, in an impossible position and given you a guilt trip. Not wishing to be morbid, but if you feel strongly enough, you could always stipulate the use of your grandfather's flag for your own funeral. It would then create a family history and heirloom. Rather like some families have a christening robe, yours could have a funeral flag.

Civilians can also be patriots. There is the famous quote, "They also serve, who only stand and wait." In the UK, many non-military people are buried under a Union Flag. Is that not possible in the US?

Regards

Chas

[Drac]

My mother just is giving me the flag. She never thought about it for the retirement flag. She doesn't really know anything about the military or traditions. There is some paralells between me and my Grandfather that made me think about it -

We both enlisted in Detroit.
We both served in the Navy during a war.
We both served on supply ships.
His ship was decommisioned the same year mine was commisioned.

On the size, I have folded a couple coffen flags as a member of the Color/Honor Guard. Once its folded the case can be adjusted for the differance.

Jim

[ohiopiper]

Use your flag for your retirement box. Keep your Grandfathers flag as a seperate momento of him and his service. My grandfathers flag is in a clear plastic case folded up in my office.

[madmacs]

Excuse my ignorance... retirement box?

[Drac]

A tradition in the military that when a person retires the various "mess" put together a case that represents the member's career. A couple Navy examples -

A simple one -



A midlevel one -



A fancy one. Though they get even more so using footlockers, etc -

[piperdbh]

In the UK, many non-military people are buried under a Union Flag. Is that not possible in the US?

I've never seen or heard of it being done, and I've been to a lot of funerals.

Drac,
If it were me, I'd use my own flag, and keep your grandfather's sealed up in its own box, one reason being that his flag is older than yours and possibly more fragile. It would really be a fine display to have both of them beside each other in their boxes with each of your medals and decorations in matching shadow boxes.

[Highlander31]

Use your own flag. Its history is part of you.

[Mickey]

Drac,
If it were me, I'd use my own flag, and keep your grandfather's sealed up in its own box, one reason being that his flag is older than yours and possibly more fragile. It would really be a fine display to have both of them beside each other in their boxes with each of your medals and decorations in matching shadow boxes.

My thoughts exactly.