How To Handle Captured Enemy Flags

The rules for handling and displaying the U.S. Flag are defined by a law known as the U.S. Flag Code, among the rules are this

“The flag should never touch anything beneath it, such as the ground, the floor, water, or merchandise”

These are important rules,  flags are used to signal Pride, War and Peace. During wars, there are military flags used exclusively by the military during battle. We also see the white flag used to signal surrender. When you see the military in formation, they always have a “Colour Party” that carries flags of the Armed Forces with armed guards. When the President and Commander in Chief speaks from his base, he usually is speaking with the Armed Forces flags behind him.

Flags are a big deal…

Which is why when the victorious Army capture the enemy flags, its a big deal, its the ultimate sign of victory. Captured flags are displayed with pride by the victorious army, its a tradition, the best example is how the soldiers of the USSR handled captured Nazi flags.

see pictures below….

Notice  the captured flags are inverted downwards and dragged on the ground (a act of grievous disrespect), Later the flags are thrown down in a rough undignified heap,…and burnt.

The idea is to humiliate and demoralize the enemy by degrading what he holds dear which are his battle flags, that is the entire point of capturing the battle flags.

Picture Credit…the Atlantic

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