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Students get a lesson in flag etiquette By DAMIAN MANN With Old Glory raised to the morning sun, Hedrick Middle School students got a lesson in flag etiquette this week - but not from teachers. Patriotic leadership students decided they needed to do something to show support for their country. Through several flag-raising ceremonies, every one of Hedrick's 1,100 students was told how to handle the Stars and Stripes. Principal Marjorie Lininger said the flag-raising and flag etiquette are more than just acts of patriotism. "They do it so they can feel connected and safe," she said. Kylie Schwarm, 12, said increased interest in the flag prompted leadership students to give a little instruction in etiquette. "It's really important for kids to understand if they're going to be patriotic," she said. Some of the things people should remember, the leadership students said, are that the flag should not be up round-the-clock (unless it is illuminated), and that the American flag should be the first one up and the last one down. "Kids want to have more respect for the flag," said Kylie. She, like other students, has been affected by the attacks on the United States. "The Sept. 11 tragedy is really a big thing and it has bothered me," she said. Josiah Douglas, 12, told classmates, "When the flag gets worn out, you fix it and mend it. You don't use it for a drapery or a desktop cover." Students offered other tips as well. A person should stand quietly with hand over heart as the flag is raised. A flag should never be flown upside down, unless it is being used as a distress signal. While Hedrick students say the Pledge of Allegiance every Monday, some classes have opted to say the pledge every other day, students say. Leadership teacher Judy O'Neill said her students came up with the idea of explaining etiquette to their classmates. "They did the research," she said. "They looked things up on the Internet and they read articles." Leadership students also have collected 425 teddy bears to send to recovery workers in New York. As part of the "Hugs from Hedrick" campaign, based on a similar one by the city of Medford, the students also have raised another $1,300 to purchase more teddy bears to offer comfort to workers who stay the night at the Red Cross Mental Health Disaster Unit in New York. Each bear comes with a card, handmade by students, that says, "This Little Hedrick Hug is filled with love and care. So when you need someone to hug, just squeeze this teddy bear. Although this gift may seem small, it comes with love from us all." Hedrick students are looking for a way to transport or ship their teddy bears to New York. To offer help, call the school at 842-3700. Reach reporter Damian Mann at 776-4476, or e-mail [email protected] Mail Tribune Home | Ottaway Newspapers, Inc. | Dow Jones & Co., Inc. | Privacy | Contact Us Copyright � 2001 Mail Tribune, Inc.