Fly the flag properly

During good weather, I walk for exercise in the Woodway/Brentwood neighborhood.

Besides exercise I enjoy the visual benefits of living in a well-maintained neighborhood. My neighborhood is comprised of houses, apartments, senior centers, emergency services, churches, businesses and schools, many of which have flagpoles, including my own home. It is humbling to see flags at half-staff and reminds me how privileged I am to live in this country. Yet, there are many of these flags that remain at full staff even when an order has been issued by the White House.

I don’t care about your politics, but please respect the honor given our flag and when it is ordered to be lowered to half-staff, please do so! Honor those who died for your right to fly that flag every day. Please go to aflag.com and sign up for half-staff notifications. I am not perfect and have missed times when my flag should have been lowered but I do try, to the best of my ability, to honor the commitment I made when I put up that flag pole.

Tracie Tharp Hogeboom

Spokane