Cody Hitchcock

Messenger Staff Writer

The bugle sounds off, the colors are raised and the pledge stated for the world to hear. But at Placer High, the flags are up before the students get to school.

Section 6 subsection b of the United States Flag Code says, “The flag should be hoisted briskly and lowered ceremoniously.” Placer High School however is not following the national flag code to the full extent. One of the Placer High School janitors has been seen lowering the flag into a large bucket and folded inside.

Mike Janus believes that flag ceremonies should be a two person job, and Placer is using one person to do the patriotic duty.

“It’s not proper etiquette as far as treatment of the flag goes, but without two people it is the best solution,” said Janus.

Janus believes that Placer is not doing their nationalistic duty of raising and lowering the flag it should be and that some people could be offended by these acts.

Placer principal Peter Efstathiu stated that “I do not know the exact proper etiquette and if the flag can ‘be lowered into a bucket.’  I can only assume the person does that so the flag does not touch the ground.”

Janus, who is the advisor for the Placer Patriot’s Club, would like to see the duty be relieved to club members.

“I would love it if our club could be organized and we were appointed students to raise it and lower it in the morning and the evening,” stated Janus.

One solution is to gather students from the Patriot’s Club and other patriotic students to do the duty.

“I would be very interested in speaking with the Patriot Club and see if we can develop a team or teams,” stated Efstathiu.

But Placer High tried this once. During the spring of 2014, five boy scouts stepped up to the responsibility after some complaints were filed to the school about the flag.

After approximately two months, for a reason unknown to Messenger Staff or Efstathiu, the newly created “flag crew” was disbanded.

Another plausible solution is to have the district or the Patriot’s Club, pull together a small budget and purchase a flood light to be mounted on top of the office building, and fly the American and California flags twenty-four hours a day, and raised on Mondays and lowered on Fridays.

Efstathiu however truly believes it is a duty that should be given to students.

“I think it should be a student or student’s responsibility to raise and lower the flag.  It was a great idea because we are shorthanded with staff early in the morning to raise the flag,” said Efstathiu.

If you are interested in participating in this patriotic duty, please talk to Janus in room 505 for more information or join the Patriot’s Club on Tuesdays and Thursdays in room 505.