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Flag
Etiquette
The U.S. Flag should
always be treated with the utmost care and respect because it
represents a living country and, as such, is considered a living
symbol. It is not a political symbol. It is a symbol that each
American should respect, for it represents the honor, courage
and sacrifice of those who struggled to deliver freedom, justice
and opportunity to all Americans. |
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General Display
(Taken from U.S. Code, Title 10, Chapter 36, Sec. 174. Time and
occasions for display.)
It is the universal custom to display the flag only from sunrise
to sunset on buildings and on stationary flagstaffs in the open.
However, when a patriotic effect is desired, the flag may be displayed
twenty-four hours a day if properly illuminated during the hours
of darkness.
The flag should be displayed daily on or near the main administration
building of every public institution.
The flag should be displayed in or near every polling place on election
days.
The flag should be displayed during school days in or near every
schoolhouse.
Manner of Hoisting
The flag should be hoisted briskly and lowered ceremoniously.
Inclement Weather
The flag should not be displayed on days when the weather is inclement,
except when an all weather flag is displayed.
Days of Display
The
flag should be displayed on all days, especially on:
New Year's Day, January 1;
Inauguration Day, January 20;
Lincoln's Birthday, February 12;
Washington's Birthday, third Monday in February;
Easter Sunday (variable);
Mother's Day, second Sunday in May;
Armed Forces Day, third Saturday in May;
Memorial Day (half-staff until noon), the last Monday in May;
Flag Day, June 14;
Independence Day, July 4;
Labor Day, first Monday in September;
Patriot’s Day, September 11th
Constitution Day, September 17;
Columbus Day, second Monday in October;
Navy Day, October 27;
Veterans Day, November 11;
Thanksgiving Day, fourth Thursday in November;
Christmas Day, December 25;
And such other days as may be proclaimed by the President of the
United States.
The birthdays of States (date of admission); and
State holidays;
Care and Respect
(Taken from U.S. Code, Title 10, Chapter 36, Sec. 176. Respect
for flag)
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.
* 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.
* The flag should never touch anything beneath it, such as the ground,
the floor, water, or merchandise.
* The flag should never be carried flat or horizontally, but always
aloft and free.
* 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.
* 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.
* The flag should never be used as a covering for a ceiling.
* 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.
* The flag should never be used as a receptacle for receiving, holding,
carrying, or delivering anything.
* 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.
* 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.
* 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.
Flying at Half Staff
(Taken from U.S. Code, Title 10, Chapter 36, Sec. 175. Position
and manner of display.)
Flying the U.S. flag at half-staff, or on a ship at half-mast, is
an honored tradition which signifies that the nation is in mourning
dur to the death of a prominent citizen.
The flag, when flown at half-staff, should be first hoisted to the
peak for an instant and then lowered to the half-staff position.
The flag should be again raised to the peak before it is lowered
for the day. On Memorial Day the flag should be displayed at half-staff
until noon only, then raised to the top of the staff.
By order of the President, the flag shall be flown at half-staff
upon the death of principal figures of the United States Government
and the Governor of a State, territory, or possession, as a mark
of respect to their memory. In the event of the death of other officials
or foreign dignitaries, the flag is to be displayed at half-staff
according to Presidential instructions or orders, or in accordance
with recognized customs or practices not inconsistent with law.
In the event of the death of a present or former official of the
government of any State, territory, or possession of the United
States, the Governor of that State, territory, or possession may
proclaim that the National flag shall be flown at half-staff.
* The flag shall be flown at half-staff 30 days from the death of
the President or a former President;
* 10 days from the day of death of the Vice President, the Chief
Justice or a retired Chief Justice of the United States, or the
Speaker of the House of Representatives;
* From the day of death until interment of an Associate Justice
of the Supreme Court, a Secretary of an executive or military department,
a former Vice President, or the Governor of a State, territory,
or possession; and,
* On the day of death and the following day for a Member of Congress
(a Senator, Representative, Delegate or the Resident Commissioner
from Puerto Rico). The flag shall be flown at half-staff on Peace
Officers Memorial Day, unless that day is also Armed Forces Day.
Displaying the Flag
(Taken from U.S. Code, Title 10, Chapter 36, Sec. 175. Position
and manner of display.)
The flag, when carried in a procession with another flag or flags,
should be either on the marching right; that is, the flag's own
right, or, if there is a line of other flags, in front of the center
of that line.
Parades
The flag should not be displayed on a float in a parade except from
a staff, or as provided in subsection (i) of this section.
Vehicles
The flag should not be draped over the hood, top, sides, or back
of a vehicle or of a railroad train or a boat. When the flag is
displayed on a motorcar, the staff shall be fixed firmly to the
chassis or clamped to the right fender.
With Other Flags
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.
The flag of the United States of America, when it is displayed with
another flag against a wall from crossed staffs, should be on the
right, the flag's own right, and its staff should be in front of
the staff of the other flag.
The flag of the United States of America should be at the center
and at the highest point of the group when a number of flags of
States or localities or pennants of societies are grouped and displayed
from staffs.
When flags of States, cities, or localities, or pennants of societies
are flown on the same halyard with the flag of the United States,
the latter should always be at the peak. When the flags are flown
from adjacent staffs, the flag of the United States should be hoisted
first and lowered last. No such flag or pennant may be placed above
the flag of the United States or to the United States flag's right.
When flags of two or more nations are displayed, they are to be
flown from separate staffs of the same height. The flags should
be of approximately equal size. International usage forbids the
display of the flag of one nation above that of another nation in
time of peace.
Buildings & Windows
When the flag of the United States is displayed from a staff projecting
horizontally or at an angle from the window sill, balcony, or front
of a building, the union of the flag should be placed at the peak
of the staff unless the flag is at half staff. When the flag is
suspended over a sidewalk from a rope extending from a house to
a pole at the edge of the sidewalk, the flag should be hoisted out,
union first, from the building.
On Walls
When displayed either horizontally or vertically against a wall,
the union should be uppermost and to the flag's own right, that
is, to the observer's left. When displayed in a window, the flag
should be displayed in the same way, with the union or blue field
to the left of the observer in the street.
Streets
When the flag is displayed over the middle of the street, it should
be suspended vertically with the union to the north in an east and
west street or to the east in a north and south street.
Churches & Auditoriums
When used on a speaker's platform, the flag, if displayed flat,
should be displayed above and behind the speaker. When displayed
from a staff in a church or public auditorium, the flag of the United
States of America should hold the position of superior prominence,
in advance of the audience, and in the position of honor at the
clergyman's or speaker's right as he faces the audience. Any other
flag so displayed should be placed on the left of the clergyman
or speaker or to the right of the audience.
Monuments
The flag should form a distinctive feature of the ceremony of unveiling
a statue or monument, but it should never be used as the covering
for the statue or monument. Casket
When the flag is used to cover a casket, it should be so placed
that the union is at the head and over the left shoulder. The flag
should not be lowered into the grave or allowed to touch the ground.
Corridors & Lobbies
When the flag is suspended across a corridor or lobby in a building
with only one main entrance, it should be suspended vertically with
the union of the flag to the observer's left upon entering. If the
building has more than one main entrance, the flag should be suspended
vertically near the center of the corridor or lobby with the union
to the north, when entrances are to the east and west or to the
east when entrances are to the north and south. If there are entrances
in more than two directions, the union should be to the east.
Formal Occasions
(Taken from U.S. Code, Title 10, Chapter 36, Sec. 177. Conduct
during hoisting, lowering or passing of flag .)
During the ceremony of hoisting or lowering the flag or when the
flag is passing in a parade or in review, all persons present except
those in uniform should face the flag and stand at attention with
the right hand over the heart.
Those present in uniform should render the military salute. When
not in uniform, men should remove their headdress with their right
hand and hold it at the left shoulder, the hand being over the heart.
Aliens should stand at attention. The salute to the flag in a moving
column should be rendered at the moment the flag passes.
Folding the Flag
To properly fold the U.S. flag, follow these steps:
1. Two people face each other, each holding one end of the flag.
Stretch it horizontally at waist height and fold in half lengthwise.
2. Fold the flag in half lengthwise again, the union (stars) should
be on the top.
3. One person holds the flag by the union while the other starts
at the opposite end by making a triangular fold.
4. Continue to fold in the flag in triangles from the stripes end
until only the blue field with stars is showing.
Click
here to See how to Fold the Flag: http://web8.si.edu/nmah/htdocs/ssb-old/6_thestory/6c_stars/fs6c.html
U.S. Flag Code
The United States Flag Code, first adopted in 1923 and later amended,
prescribes flag etiquette for a variety of situations ensuring our
national symbol a position of honor and respect. The Flag Code is
not law, but a guide for civilians who wish to properly honor our
country's principal emblem.
Each military branch has its own flag code; therefore, on matters
concerning military flag etiquette, you should consult the specific
branch's code.
The Flag Code, which formalizes and unifies the traditional ways
in which we give respect to the flag, also contains specific instructions
on how the flag is not to be used.
They are:
* The flag should never be dipped to any person or thing.
* 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.
* The flag should not be used as a drapery or for covering a speaker's
desk, draping a platform, or for any decoration in general, including
statues and monuments. Bunting of blue, white and red stripes is
available for these purposes. The blue stripe of the bunting should
be on top.
* The flag should never be used for any advertising purpose. It
should not be embroidered, printed or otherwise impressed on such
articles as cushions, handkerchiefs, napkins, boxes, or anything
intended to be discarded after temporary use. Never use it as part
of a costume or athletic uniform.
* When the flag is lowered, no part of it should touch the ground
or any other object; it should be received by waiting hands and
arms. To store the flag it should be folded neatly and ceremoniously.
* The flag should never be soiled. It is to be cleaned and mended
when necessary. The flag may be laundered or dry-cleaned.
* When a flag is so worn (tattered, ripped, faded) it is no longer
fit to serve as the symbol of our country, it should be destroyed
in a dignified manner, preferably by burning.
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