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Why Does the Teamsters Union Appear to Be FlyingIts Union Flag Above the U.S. One Outside the

Groups D.C. HQ?Posted on December 18, 2012 at 4:14pm by Tiffany Gabbay

TheBlazes Jonathon M. Seidl contributed to this report.

A photo depicting what appears to be the Teamsters Union flag improperly flying abovethe American flag outside

the unions D.C. headquarters on Tuesday was sent to TheBlaze, and the story of how a Marine veteran who tried to

bring it to the groups attention was treated is sure to raise eyebrows.

The photo was taken by the Marine at approximately 2:10 pm ET and sent to TheBlaze by his brother. Both have

requested anonymity for fear of retaliation by the union.

This is the picture:

Photo credit: TheBlaze

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You can just make out the image of the horses and the star-like figure present in the unions logo:

An image from the Teamsters website showing the groups logo. (Photo source: Teamsters.org)

A quick view of Google Maps and the street view feature shows the building depicted in the photo above is, in fact,

the groups listed headquarters. The Google image shows the same flag poles:

The unions headquarters, located at 25 Louisiana Avenue NW, Washington, DC, as seen in Google.

(Photo source: Google Maps)

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The decision to fly the union flag above the U.S. one seems a clear violation the United States Flag Code. Section

c of the code states:

(c) No other flag or pennant should be placed above or, if on the same level, to the right of the flag of the United

States of America, except during church services conducted by naval chaplains at sea, when the church pennant

may be flown above the flag during church services for the personnel of the Navy. No person shall display the flag of

the United Nations or any other national or international flag equal, above, or in a position of superior prominence or

honor to, or in place of, the flag of the United States at any place within the United States or any Territory or

possession thereof: Provided, That nothing in this section shall make unlawful the continuance of the practice

heretofore followed of displaying the flag of the United Nations in a position of superior prominence or honor, and

other national flags in positions of equal prominence or honor, with that of the flag of the United States at the

headquarters of the United Nations.

TheBlaze could not locate any exceptions made for when the U.S. flag has been ordered at half-staff, which has

been the case since the Sandy Hooke school massacre.

But theres more to the story. The veterans brother tells TheBlaze that the Marine did try to inform the union of the

apparent flag code violation, but when he entered the Teamsters headquarters to alert them of the matter he was

informed by a security guard that he had to leave the premises.

The Teamsters Union headquarters also happens to be approximately a block away from the U.S. Capitol.

TheBlaze contacted the groups headquarters for comment and has not yet received a response.

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