A photographer and Navy veteran is fighting back after a photo she posted to Facebook started an online backlash.

Vanessa Hicks said she had no idea her photo would be considered controversial. The photo, from a military family's newborn photo shoot, showed a newborn infant wrapped in an American flag held by his father, who was in his military uniform.

Hicks, a Navy veteran herself and the wife of an active-duty Navy member, said her intention was to honor the flag as well as her clients, who wanted to incorporate their military service in the photo shoot.


"This is what he was fighting for, his son wrapped in an American flag," Hicks told ABC News. However, when she posted the image on her page, she started to get comments accusing her of desecrating the flag.

On one Facebook page an unidentified poster put up her picture writing and wrote they found it was "disrespectful, rude, tacky, disgusting, and against the U.S. Flag Code."



Vanessa Hicks


The Federal Flag Code has guidelines for the proper treatment of the U.S. Flag but there are no rules for punishment related to violations. In the past, the Supreme Court has found that people are protected from punishment under the First Amendment for manipulating or even burning the flag.

Hicks said she was surprised when messages suddenly started to pop up on her Facebook page and even her own website criticizing her photos.

She said she stayed up until 4 a.m. recently to take down comments from her business and company page, even on shoots that had nothing to do with the flag.

"I know how low I felt during those first few hours," said Hicks. "[I felt] am I not a good American or veteran or wife. It's a train-wreck you can't help but watch."

As Hicks tried to stop the comments from taking over her pages, others started to take notice and her picture went viral on social media sites. After that, Hicks found that many people, both military and civilian, told her they did not find the picture offensive.

"I have seen first-hand what is desecration of the flag," Hicks said of her time in the military. "At the end of the day I didn't do anything that disrespected this flag."

Hicks, whose husband is still on active duty in the Navy, said the flag is a symbol of U.S. freedoms including the First Amendment right to free speech.

"[My husband] wouldn't die for a flag, he would die for the freedoms that this country offers," she told ABC News.

After her story grabbed local headlines, Hicks has been inundated by requests for photos shoots, and she said she plans to give 15 percent of all profits related to these shoots to the USO.

I don't find it disrespectful. I think it is beautiful. What is more precious in a flag but an innocent baby. My dad died when I was 7 on duty in the Air Force when he plane crashed. He loved his family and his country. I feel if we had the technology back then, he would have loved to have his baby girls wrapped in the flag.

i agree, I don't see where the whiners are coming from...

and sorry about your father, i thank him for his service...

I'm not sorry but thank you. He died doing what he loved and held dear.

Some people just want to complain. There are too many more important things in the world to pick a fight with. Like abuse, rape, etc.

I don't see how this would even be an issue to someone that actually has a life.

I don't like flag burnings and think it's disgusting, but I was brought up that people have this right. fine. but I would take a sweet baby in a flag over burning it any day

That's a great pic....

I thought it was a great picture too.



I'm going to steal this from goof. Is this desecrating too? psssshhh. lol

for those who consider it an idol, nothing is appropriate other than flying it and otherwise worshipping it,,,

I like the picture to ... and those that said something would not be my friends ... lighten up ... our flag has been put through worse then that ... and he should have that right ... he fought for us ... he is not damaging it ... wow... some people ...

What a handsome little kid and great picture

More faux outrage from a society that loves to be offended.....except, they're now scraping the bottom of the barrel looking for things to be offended by. Watch out with those d!ck and fart jokes around 'em

an agree with u on that one

it's not about an Idol, it's about pride... something your prez doesn't understand either...

liberals fault...

its about idol when you determine an object is untouchable,,,

I honestly can't believe that anyone would see this as anything other than a picture of pride and joy

we see it differently... the flag is/was never about an idol, it has always been a symbol for national pride... i see that obarry was successful in taking that away...

I think it's a beautiful expression of love of country and family.

people can post pics of themselves at sporting events wrapped in the flag of their choice whether it's of a nation ora pparticular team.

yet someone complains at a tasteful expression of pride and love???

you got that right... totally agree...

we do see it differently

when something is MASS PRODUCED and sold for retail, its replaceable

whatever it symbolizes doesn't change with what's done or not done to it


and what something symbolizes for one doesn't mandate that it symbolize the same for others

like i said, the pride has been taken away...