[Lissa]

Here's a good 4rth of July question...

My brother in law got Lydia a cute dress for 4rth of July. He's originally from Italy and he wears a flag shirt every 4rth and got her a flag dress. I thought it was a lovely gesture as he says he feels a kinship to Lydia since they are both naturalized citizens. My OTHER brother in law who was born in the US says wearing the flag disgraces the country...

So what do y'all think?

[joyfulme3x]

I don't think it "disgraces the country" but according to traditional flag etiquette it's just not very respectful to the flag, mainly because an article of clothing goes through many indignities like getting hot dog ketchup spilled on it and hanging on a clothesline...things that a real flag should never have happen.

In my family (full of servicemen and women past and present) we don't wear articles of clothing with realistic-looking flags on them. If I want patriotic T-shirts or whatever I get some that have more stylized-type flag designs. Same for table decorations, etc.

But I don't think you should prevent Lydia from wearing the flag shirt; I think the gesture behind it is very nice and respectful.

[DCMomLady]

Unless the dress is made from an actual flag, I don't think that reasonable people will take any offense. If you want to follow the technicalities of flag etiquette, even those wonderful little flag pins that everyone wears (including most patriots, politicians and our President) are forbidden.

I'll be wearing mine proudly -- a 14K gold heart pendant with a flag enameled on the front. It dangles from my favorite gold chain right next to the solid gold peace sign that my husband had made for me many many years ago.

Happy 4th of July!

[twoinblue]

If the dress is made from an actual flag it is a no-no. Your BIL is technically correct -- to wear a flag as decoration is considered an insult by the rules of original flag ettiquette. I think that rule has gone by the wayside as people enjoy wearing the colors as a way to honor the USA flag.

A far greater offense that a lot of people aren't aware of is leaving the flag up overnight without illumination. The flag is never supposed to fly in the dark. People also fly tattered flags. The worse thing I have seen is when people let their kids play with flags and the children beat the flag on things or drag it on the ground. I've always waited for some WWII veteran to pop up and give them a tongue lashing. Those VFW guys get very excited about their flag ettiquette.

[MBA62]

I've heard that wearing the flag is considered disrespectful - I heard it from my Mom when I went to a July 4th bbq wearing an Old Navy Flag T-shirt (lol). I didn't mean any disrespect, quite the opposite. Your BIL gave it with love and kinship - I say let her wear it. I'm sure she'll look adorable. Have fun.
Mary

[jasonsmom]

I don't see anything wrong with shirts that have flags on them. I don't particularly like shorts that are made to look like they're made out of a flag but I would never say anything to someone wearing them. Now, if a kid was banging a flag on the ground or something like that, I might say something to them about that.

Paula

[Lissa]

I think it looks adorable, but I'm biased.

[hope4girl]

Oh she is such a doll. I have never before heard of anything wrong with wearing something with a flag on it. I buy my boys Old Navy shirts every year to wear on the 4th. I have also bought several things with flags on them for our daughter when we bring her home. I have seen several photographs of adopted little ones draped in American flags.

[looneytunes32]

My mother has always made t-shirts with flags on them for her grandkids. I've never heard of that being offensive. Now if you took an actual FLAG and made a shirt or shorts out of it, I think that would be different.

I think Lydia's quite cute in her Fourth of July dress!

[jjnanj]

there is absolutely nothing wrong with that adorable little one wearing that dress. she is absolutely beautiful and if anyone has a problem with her attire, then you should with all due haste, run away from that close minded dullard. they probably have problems other than the falg, they probably don't like "foreigners" either.

having served in the military myself (army ft. jackson) i see no problem with the dress, as a matter of fact i find no problem with using a real flag to make a shirt. to me it's just red, white, and blue material.

hopefully your little one enjoyed herself in her dress, and if she spilled something on it, then take solace in the fact that the flag "protected" her.

[angelkisses0102]

She looks too cute. Since our DD's adoption day was July 2nd, we got her on the 3rd and spent our first holiday as a family together on the 4th in Moscow...I always get her and now them cute July 4th outfits...

I love her little dress and her holding the flag....precious!

[oleson1]

Lissa--

Let me start by saying, SO cute!!! It would have been a crime to NOT let her wear that adorable dress.

I was born on the 4th of July and I love to wear flag clothing year round. (Not made of actual flags, but you know what I mean...)

My intent is pride in my country. To me, it is no different than wearing a gold cross pendant around my neck. I am showing pride and respect for what the symbols represent, not doing disgrace to them. I even have some shoes that have a small flag on them because that is part of the company logo.

[joyfulme3x]

Oh my gosh that is about the cutest thing ever!

And the dress is what I was talking about a "stylized" flag...it's not even meant to be a realistic flag so I can't see how even a diehard flag etiquette follower could find fault with it.

So cute! I hope Lydia had a great July 4th.

[ShivaWolf]

Lissa,
She is sooo cute!!! I love the dress and do not see any problem with the flag issue IMHO.
I was a cub scout leader many years ago and had to teach the boys proper flag ettiquette and to see an actual flag touching the ground, dragged around ect.. to this day kind of makes me cringe....weird, I dont know why...
But I think the dress is adorable, shows pride and was very thoughtfull of her Uncle.