Presidential Message on Honoring the American Flag
For nearly two and a half centuries, the American Flag has stood as the most iconic and magnificent symbol of freedom, liberty, and justice that the world has ever known. Today, we recommit ourselves to honoring our beloved Stars and Stripes by ensuring it is always treated with the utmost respect, dignity, and reverence that it so rightly deserves.
From the fateful moment the Star-Spangled Banner defiantly waved above the ramparts at Fort McHenry to the triumphant raising of the red, white, and blue atop Mount Suribachi during the Battle of Iwo Jima, throughout every generation and across every battlefield, the American Flag has shone as a radiant beacon of hope and liberty in the face of tyranny and oppression. It is the solemn duty of every American patriot to honor our Flag with unfailing loyalty, respect, and devotion—never allowing it to be dishonored or desecrated.
The United States Code, Title 4, Section 8, sets forth the proper conduct owed to our Flag. It reminds us that the Flag “represents a living country and is itself considered a living thing.” When our Flag has served its purpose and is no longer a fitting emblem for display, it should be retired in a dignified way, preferably by burning. Countless veterans service organizations, scouting groups, and patriotic Americans across our great Nation carry out these retirement ceremonies with solemn respect, and we remain grateful for their devotion to this sacred tradition.
To fully restore pride in our American Flag, last year I signed an Executive Order to prosecute those who desecrate this sacred symbol of our freedom to the fullest extent of the law. Under my leadership, anyone who defiles our Flag will face swift and unrelenting justice—including the radical rioters, agitators, and foreign nationals who despise our country, break our laws, incite violence, and seek to intimidate our citizens. This month, the Department of Veterans Affairs is launching a brand-new initiative online where Americans can access all the necessary information on how to properly respect, treat, and retire our great American Flag. Together, we will ensure the premier symbol of our great Republic is preserved for generations to come.
Today, on the Saturday before Veterans Day, we honor the sacred emblem of our beloved country—a Flag that has flown over battlefields and homesteads, been carried into combat by our bravest warriors, and been draped over the caskets of heroes who paid the ultimate price to preserve our freedom. May we continue to righteously defend the timeless values so beautifully embodied by our Stars and Stripes, and may Old Glory always be treated with the dignity and honor befitting the Flag of the greatest Nation in all of human history.
