Q: Greetings,
I have a question regarding flag etiquette. The Flag Code indicates no part of the flag is to be used as apparel.

There is more; it is also inappropriate to use any part of the flag as a costume or athletic uniform, except for a flag patch or pin.

1) Does this mean it is improper to wear a shirt with an image of the flag printed on it?

No. A printed image, as long as there is nothing placed directly over the flag image itself, is not the same as using an actual flag to make up part of a garment.

2) What about clothing that doesn't have the flag itself, but red & white stripes and/or white stars on blue?  These are obviously elements of the flag.

True, but unless an actual US Flag is altered into a garment, I don't see any problem here. Abby Hoffman was acquitted because his shirt had in fact never been a flag or part of a flag. Don't forget the stars and stripes shirts Roy Rogers and Dale Evans always wore. The code clearly prohibits using a flag or any part of a flag as apparel, but does not mention images of flags or patterns that suggest the flag. The deciding factor seems to be if it never was an actual flag, then it's fair game.

I want to express my patriotism.  I also want to honor those that have defended the flag by displaying my patriotism properly.

Keep up the good work.

Thanks much!
God Bless America!
Mike 
Eagle Scout
------------
Dave Martucci

RESPECTFULLY YOURS,  
CHUCK

1. The Ship's Colors. Your basic naval ensign or national flag for use by the navy.
2. Guards.  The "Guards" award was given to a military or naval unit and carried throughout the life of the unit. For example, the 15th Infantry division distinguishes itself in battle. It is given the "Guards" designation. It is thereafter known as the "15th Guards Infantry". I don't know how this designation is used for individual vessels, but you would have a "2nd Guards Destroyer Squadron". A Guards ensign would have an additional orange and black ribbon printed onto the flag.
3. Red Banner. The Highest Award. The Red star on the naval ensign is replaced by a more decorative red star badge. A unit is thereafter referred to as a "Red Banner" unit. An example of this would be the "Red Banner Northern Fleet".
4. The Aurora was given the unique designation as a "Guards Red Banner" unit. The ensign had both the orange ribbon and the red star badge.

Sincerely, 
John Gamez

(..we received the following reply from NAVA member Zach Harden)

A: On page one, one person asked about the current "Aurora" flag, and it is the Russian Naval flag, with the awards the "Aurora" has received from the Soviet Union. They had a special ensign during the later days in the
Soviet Union. It was the Soviet Naval Flag, with the two awards the "Aurora" got from the Soviet government. The awards were placed near the big red star.  I can provide a picture to show what it looks like.  The ship is currently docked in Moscow, as a war memorial, and a standing monument of the former USSR.

Zach Harden

(..we received the following reply from NAVA member Zach Harden)

A: The question on page one with a Canadian flag with the four symbols/flowers, that is the flag of Montreal, Quebec.

Zach Harden 

     Please keep in mind that NAVA can not endorse TALAS nor supply prices; however, we are very grateful to Mr. Salik for providing this information.

Richard R. Gideon

A: Dear Tom: 
     Except in some unusual situations, "Civil War" flags were not painted with oil paints.  In fact, when one considers that a Union Infantry Color or a Regimental could be produced in a day, it seems illogical that oil paints would be used.  As you have discovered, oil paint takes a long time to cure.  According to Fonda Thomsen of Textile Preservation  Associates, Sharpsburg Maryland, the paint of choice was resin paint.  This type of paint sets up quickly and does not take weeks to cure.  However, resin paint is hard to find.  You may want to consider a fine artist or fabric acrylic paint.
     With respect to painting the eagle in the Arms of the United States (I assume you are painting a regimental), painters used a stencil of the outline of the arms, then used a basecoat of a neutral gray paint.  A detail artist then did the rest.  Today flag artists that specialize in this sort of thing, such as Stephen Hill and Katherine Feuhrer Gideon, have their "tricks of the trade," but their approaches are similar.
Regards,
Richard R. Gideon

A: Dear Michelle: 
     I do not know the answer to your question, but it is an interesting one. With your permission, I would like to forward it to the questions-and-answers page of www.nava.org, where one of the members of the North American Vexillological Association may know how to answer your question. 
Very truly yours, 
Charles Spain FIAV Secretary- General

(Mr. Spain is past-president of NAVA...Ed)

A: Hi Chip
Sorry on 2 counts, one for the long delay in responding and second for not having the answer. I will forward this to others at NAVA and hope they can help.

Lee L. Herold

(...and we received this from NAVA member Phil Nelson...Ed)

According to http://www.underwater-society.org/ the Underwater Society of America is active in promoting the use of the red and white diver down flag.  And from http://www.southwestdiver.com/historyscuba.html

1956: Ted Nixon introduces a distinctive red and white "diver down" flag to warn boaters to stay clear or slow down to avoid injuring nearby divers.  (There is no record of who becomes the first boater to respond by cruising over at high speed "to see what those guys are up to.")

Phil Nelson

A: Dear Piett:
I like your design. Simple, bold. The only suggestions that I can make are making more of a 2:3 proportion flag like in avatar 2 (at left), or placing the main design element off center in avatar 3. These are just suggestions.  There are other ways to enhance it, but as it stands it eye-catching and a lot of credit goes to the designer for keeping it simple. 
Sincerely, 

John Gamez