THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT 
              Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: Monday, July 24, 1995                  TAG: 9507220001
SECTION: FRONT                    PAGE: A6   EDITION: FINAL 
TYPE: Letter 
                                             LENGTH: Short :   29 lines

NO AMENDMENT NEEDED TO PROTECT FLAG

There is no need to tamper with the Constitution to protect the flag from abuse. All we need is a law that says anyone convicted of abusing the flag will be required to:

1. Listen to Kate Smith sing ``God Bless America'' 50 times, one time for each state.

2. Sit through 50 showings of the movie ``Yankee Doodle Dandy.''

3. Listen 50 times to General MacArthur's ``Old Soldiers Never Die'' speech.

4. Listen 50 times to Nixon's ``Checkers'' and resignation speeches.

5. Watch 50 times Oliver North's testimony before the congressional committee.

The prospect of these punishments will do more to protect the flag than any amendment to the Constitution.

D. F. MILLER

Norfolk, July 14, 1995 by CNB