A photographer and Navy veteran is fighting back after a photo she posted to Facebook started an online backlash.

 

Vanessa Hicks said she had no idea her photo would be considered controversial. The photo, from a military family’s newborn photo shoot, showed a newborn infant wrapped in an American flag held by his father, who was in his military uniform.

 

Hicks, a Navy veteran herself and the wife of an active-duty Navy member, said her intention was to honor the flag as well as her clients, who wanted to incorporate their military service in the photo shoot.

 

 

Photographer Fights Backlash Over Baby Wrapped in American Flag Picture - ABC News

 

Flag Code

 

§8. Respect for flag

 

No disrespect should be shown to the flag of the United States of America; the flag should not be dipped to any person or thing. Regimental colors, State flags, and organization or institutional flags are to be dipped as a mark of honor.

a. The flag should never be displayed with the union down, except as a signal of dire distress in instances of extreme danger to life or property.

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

c. The flag should never be carried flat or horizontally, but always aloft and free.

d. The flag should never be used as wearing apparel, bedding, or drapery. It should never be festooned, drawn back, nor up, in folds, but always allowed to fall free. Bunting of blue, white, and red, always arranged with the blue above, the white in the middle, and the red below, should be used for covering a speaker's desk, draping the front of the platform, and for decoration in general.

e. The flag should never be fastened, displayed, used, or stored in such a manner as to permit it to be easily torn, soiled, or damaged in any way.

f. The flag should never be used as a covering for a ceiling.

g. The flag should never have placed upon it, nor on any part of it, nor attached to it any mark, insignia, letter, word, figure, design, picture, or drawing of any nature.

h. The flag should never be used as a receptacle for receiving, holding, carrying, or delivering anything.

i. The flag should never be used for advertising purposes in any manner whatsoever. It should not be embroidered on such articles as cushions or handkerchiefs and the like, printed or otherwise impressed on paper napkins or boxes or anything that is designed for temporary use and discard. Advertising signs should not be fastened to a staff or halyard from which the flag is flown.

j. No part of the flag should ever be used as a costume or athletic uniform. However, a flag patch may be affixed to the uniform of military personnel, firemen, policemen, and members of patriotic organizations. The flag represents a living country and is itself considered a living thing. Therefore, the lapel flag pin being a replica, should be worn on the left lapel near the heart.

k. The flag, when it is in such condition that it is no longer a fitting emblem for display, should be destroyed in a dignified way, preferably by burning

Anyone who has a problem with this needs to find a new home country..

I've violated several of those provisions. At no time were any of them done with the intention of disrespecting the flag.

 

As for this one in particular, I think it's a great picture and any technical violations of the flag code pale in comparison to that great imagery.

 

I think the Roman Catholic Church's rubrics for the proper handling of consecrated eucharist are less strict than that flag code...

I think as Americans we should do our best to adhere to the code but when it is something like the pic above, that is not something to get upset about, just one of those where you tap the person on the shoulder and nicely explain that what they are doing goes against the code in an FYI manner not an upset manner.

[someone] [does] [something], [something] sparks controversy. Lather, rinse, repeat.

Flag Code

 

e. The flag should never be fastened, displayed, used, or stored in such a manner as to permit it to be easily torn, soiled, or damaged in any way.

 

If this clause were followed, then the flag could NEVER be hung outside on a flag pole in ANY conditions as it would become torn, soiled AND damaged, and quite quickly in many areas.

I like the pict.

 

At least these people arent burning the flag or trying to get it banned from sight since it is now a symbol of hatred.

If this clause were followed, then the flag could NEVER be hung outside on a flag pole in ANY conditions as it would become torn, soiled AND damaged, and quite quickly in many areas.

 

I think the key word in the flag code for this is "easily."

Cool Picture, but the flag is not to hit the ground men have died over the years throwing down a weapon in battle to advance our flag. When I was in highschool we folded the flag each day, hung it each morning, and took it down when a storm blew in.

I think this picture should be sent to all our enemies, with the message, "This generation is ready, and so is the next one"

If I were Vanessa Hicks, I'd tell anyone who had a problem with the picture to kiss my "donkey".

If I were Vanessa Hicks, I'd tell anyone who had a problem with the picture to kiss my "donkey".

 

I aint kissing a democrat.

I think the key word in the flag code for this is "easily."

 

Correct. I company I audited had the flag on their building near large trees. Because off this, bird poop was hitting the flag. They moved the flag on another side of building and now all is good.

Cool Picture, but the flag is not to hit the ground men have died over the years throwing down a weapon in battle to advance our flag. When I was in highschool we folded the flag each day, hung it each morning, and took it down when a storm blew in.

 

Coming in soaked after taking the flag down used to be a badge of honor. LOL On cold days it wasn't much fun though.