After 9/11, the US Flag could be found on virtually every athletic uniform being worn in the professional and amateur ranks. Nobody that I'm aware of filed a lawsuit claiming it was against the law.

I support any uniformed organization that wishes to display the Flag. But that's because I spent 30 years in the military.

The official ASA hat still has a small Flag on it, doesn't it?

Back on point, I'm not too happy that I now have to buy a specific hat and shirt to umpire high school games here. I already have three shirts that I've ironed on the VHSL patch that I'll have to essentially throw away. And what the heck was wrong with plain navy hats that I use for multiple organizations?

Remember when people started with the antenna flags and then flying them off a window attachment? Now, do you remember how dirty they became and tattered?

You want to hold the flag up as a matter of respect and honor and patriotism, the first thing you should worry about is to applying that same respect and honor to that symbol. Attaching it to anything including an athletic uniform or hat or glove or whatever where it will become soiled or damaged is just as disrespectful as throwing it to the ground.

When I was in the military, the flag was not part of the uniform, nor were you allowed to attach it to any part of your uniform.

It is now, at least in the Army for the camouflage uniform.

The link now works. The shirt is $49.95, plus $2.50 tax, plus $7.60 for USPS shipping (cheapest mode). That's $60.05 for one shirt!

OUCH!

I wonder if we'll ever know how much of that ends up in Charlottesville.....

That is high! But you can't do their game wo their shirt. And it's only one game fee.

Of course, it is. It is a feel-good token for most people, but I still do not care for it on any uniform.

Clothes, including uniforms, get dirty especially those designed for working.

True. But historically, flags were used to lead and inspire combatants on the battlefields. And sports participants are combatants of sorts.

As you can probably tell, I do have US Flags on a number of my umpire shirts. In fact, I use the reverse US Flag on my right sleeve, which has been a source of discussion to some. I once had an older gentleman come up to me at the concession stand after I finished a LL baseball game. I assumed he was going to either ask me a question about a rule, or just give me the usual "Good game, Blue," comment that follows our games.

No, he accused me of improperly displaying the US Flag by wearing it backwards. I tried to convince him that it was appropriate to wear it that way on the uniform, because the field of stars are required to be closer to the heart. He said he used to be in the military and he'd never seen it displayed that way. I replied, "Sir, I still am in the military, and this is the Flag I wear on my work uniform every day."

I understand that this year a couple of vendors were added to the list so that Honigs does not have a monopoly,

Great answer.

FWIW, I tend to agree with Irishmafia. I was brought up thinking the flag was special and to be treated almost as a holy object.

I still get uncomfortable when I see the ragged flags on antennas, or the unlit flags at night or those left up in the rain and especially the 23 torn and tattered flags surrounding the used car lot.

I also tend to think wearing them on any and everything not related to the US Government cheapens the flag.

BUT that's just my opinion.... I understand that some who wear the flag (despite the code) have good intentions.

Now, don't ask me my opinion of people hollaring, whistling and shouting during the last 8 measures of the Star Spangled Banner!!! ;)

I do know an organization (a rather large one) that I used to belong to that insisted we all get new apparel with the flag on the sleeve. A few refused, were threatened, and then when those few (most of whom were ex-military) explained why, trotted out the flag code, and threatened to sue, the organization backed down.

(And note, former organization ... I didn't mention your name!!!! :) )

New VHSL Uniforms
 

Don't know how this thread morphed into two parts, but here's my two cents on both.

As for the uniform shirts, VHSL members get a 20% discount on the Cliff Keen merchandise. That's still $40 a shirt + tax + shipping, or about $50 each.

Being in three officiating groups (volleyball, basketball, and softball), I currently own 16 official shirts in all those groups. If I just buy two new shirts in each sport, that's $240 that I shouldn't have to spend since all my shirts are in excellent condition.

Not sure yet if the softball caps will be mandatory, but we can add in another $15 each for those.

I think the VHSL's 'association' with Cliff Keen is just a money-making venture for the VHSL. They entered into this agreement not realizing that the almost 3000 officials in Virginia are going to have to fork out nearly a quarter of a million dollars to re-outfit themselves. Not sure what percentage of that money will go to Charlottesville, but I'll bet it's not a small amount.

I'm hoping the local associations will get together and boycott this mandated policy before it becomes effective in the 2014-15 school year. The VHSL has stipulated that all STATE-LEVEL playoff officials must wear these new shirts starting next school year. So some of our people will have to purchase them while others do not.

Now for part two, our association has worn the American flag on the back of our softball shirts for years to show our pride in our country. Not one person has objected to this policy. The flag patch itself tends to hold up better than the shirt, so I've never had a problem with the patch getting soiled or ragged. IMHO, I think it's a great way to display your patriotism. I've yet to hear a TV or radio commentator make any negative comment on an official who's wearing the flag.

God bless the USA!

Funny that the flag patch got into this thread. There is a guy in our local association who wears a "camo-version" of the flag on his shirts.

Does he enforce uniform violations on players as required by the rules org. he working?
:)

And because most umpires don't know they'll be doing State-level games until a week or two out at best, many more will have to buy the shirts and hats in anticipation that they may get the nod. They won't want to risk ordering them at the last minute and finding out they're on back-order.