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Republican county chairmen (party leaders, not county board leaders) held a meeting and prepared to recite the pledge. Oops. There was no flag in the room for them to face while reciting. What to do?
Why, call on a fellow named Gene to come to the rescue. Gene was wearing a shirt decked out in an American flag pattern. He came forward, and the group of assembled Republicans pledged allegiance to his shirt.
No? Well...
— Larry, Agèd Monkey, Light Reading
This is pretty common practice amongst the ranks of the Boy Scouts of America. It's not uncommon to be starting a ceremony in some remote locale that lacks a proper flag, but hey, we are prepared! Our uniforms each have a flag patch attached to our right shoulder/sleeve. So someone gets volunteered to be the flag (standing perfectly errect and with his right shoulder facing the troop).
So have you ever pledged allegiance to a teenage boy? Scary indeed....
j