[Making a Difference]
Because of this experience, Vanessa has become a strong advocate to curbing cyberbullying. “You turn on the news channel and you see every day that people are literally killing themselves over bullies on the Internet. I have two young daughters and I was able to teach them something: you do not let anyone tear you down, always stand up for what you believe in, because you never know when it will change your life.”
Vanessa and her husband are now planning for a PCS move to Monterey, California, where she will continue her photography business. Life certainly looks a bit different than it did one year ago. Business is booming, but that doesn’t come without a few challenges. “I feel like my page is always opened up to scrutiny and that everyone has an opinion on what I do. That’s been hard to navigate through. But, I’ve been able to help the USO and local organizations by giving them the rights to print the photo and auction it off for charity. If that image can create positivity and create good, then I’m absolutely all for it. So much good has come from all of this, and I’m so eternally grateful and blessed.”
There have been lessons along the way. “For me, the biggest lesson is to number one, stand up for what you believe in, always. And also, to continue to do things you love and to find your passion. This whole story started off with me losing my job and me and pursuing something I was passionate about. Am I making as much? No. Am I so much happier? Absolutely, yes.”
To view more of Vanessa’s work, please visit her website at vanessahicksphotograhy.com or her Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/vanessahicksphotography
Flag Code:
The Flag Code was initially adopted in 1923 to define federal and state regulations that govern the display of the United States Flag. The code is a guide and does not impose penalties for misuse. The interpretation of the Flag Code may be loose, as there are numerous ‘violations’ of the Code visible today. For example, the code forbids the flag to be used on advertisements or athletic uniforms, and Olympic athletes who drape the flag over their body, models who wear apparel with the American flag, even holiday themed napkins with American flags are all in technical violation. Title 176 in the Flag Code details “Respect for the Flag” and states the following:
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.
For more information, visit: usflag.org, a website dedicated the Flag Code
