FLAG ETIQUETTE
Dates to Fly a Flag
Flags can be flown any sunny day you may feel like, but it should be flown especially on these days:
Flags can be flown any sunny day you may feel like, but it should be flown especially on these days:
- • New Year's Day - January 1
- • Inauguration Day - January 20
- • Martin Luther King Jr.'s Birthday - third Monday in January
- • Lincoln's Birthday - February 12
- • Washington's Birthday - third Monday in February
- • Easter Sunday
- • 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
- • 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
- • The birthdays of States and State holidays
Freedom to Display the American Flag act of 2005
The President signed this into law in July of 2006. The new law prohibits Condo Associations and other Real Estate Management companies from denying unit owners the right to display the American flag from their individual units. This new law means that even though homeowners may have signed an agreement that restricted modifications to the exterior of their condos or townhouses the display of the American flag is exempted from those rules. For more information visit Govtrack.us
When To Display the Flag
The flag should be displayed on all days when the weather permits, especially on legal holidays or other special occasions. It is customary to display the flag from sunrise to sunset on buildings or on stationary flagstaffs in the open. However, on special occasions it may be displayed at night, preferably lighted. The Flag should be displayed on or near the main administration building of every public institution-in or near polling places on election days-in or near schools when they are in session. A citizen may fly the flag on any day he wishes.
Click here for more information on Flag Holidays
How To Fly the Flag
The flag should be raised and lowered by hand. Never raise the flag while it is furled; unfurl, then hoist quickly to the peak of the flagstaff. It should be lowered slowly and ceremoniously. The flag should never be allowed to touch anything beneath it, such as the ground or the floor. The flying of the flag at half-staff is a sign of mourning. When flown at half-staff, the flag should be first hoisted to the peak, then immediately lowered to the half-staff position. It should be raised to the peak again for a moment before it is lowered for the day. Half-staff is the point midway between top and bottom of the flagstaff. On Memorial Day in May, the flag should fly at half-staff from sunrise until noon and at full-staff from noon until sunset.
How To Display the Flag
If the flag is displayed from a staff projected from a window sill, balcony or front of a building, the union of the flag should go to the peak of the staff (unless the flag is to be displayed at half-staff). When the flag is displayed in any manner other than being flown from a staff, it should be displayed flat, whether indoors or out. If 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 it should be suspended in the same way--that is, with the union to the left of the observer in the street. When displayed over the middle of the street, the Stars and Stripes should be suspended vertically with the union to the north on an east-west street and to the east on a north-south street. When the flag is suspended over a sidewalk from a rope extending from house to pole at the edge of the sidewalk, the flag should be hoisted out from the building toward the pole union first. When used on a speaker's platform the flag may be displayed flat, above and behind the speaker. If flown from a staff it should be on the speaker's right; all other flags on the platform should be on the speakers left. When it is displayed on the pulpit or chancel in a church, the flag should be flown from a staff placed on the clergyman's right as he faces the congregation. All other flags on the pulpit or chancel should be on the clergyman's left. When flags of states or cities, 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 flown from adjacent staffs, the Stars and Stripes should be raised first and lowered last. When used to cover a casket, the flag should be placed so 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. The casket should be carried foot-first from the hearse to the grave. The flag should not: be used as a costume or athletic uniform or part of one; be used as drapery of any sort whatsoever, never festooned, drawn back or up in folds, but always allowed to fall free. Bunting of blue, white and red-- always arranged with the blue above, white in the middle, and red below--should be used for such purposes of decoration as covering a speaker's desk or draping the front of a platform.When flown with flags of states, communities, or societies on separate flag poles which are of the same height and in a straight line, the flag of the United States is always placed in the position of honor - to its own right.
Flying a Flag at Half Staff
The flying of the flag at half-staff is a sign of mourning. When flown at half-staff, the flag should be first hoisted to the peak, then immediately lowered to the half-staff position. It should be raised to the peak again for a moment before it is lowered for the day. Half-staff is the point midway between top and bottom of the flagstaff. On Memorial Day in May, the flag should fly at half-staff from sunrise until noon and at full-staff from noon until sunset.
Saluting the Flag
In saluting the flag, all persons present in uniform should render the military salute. Members of the Armed Forces and veterans who are present but not in uniform may render the military salute. All other persons present should face the flag and stand at attention with their right hand over the heart, or if applicable, remove their headdress with their right hand and hold it at the left shoulder, the hand being over the heart. Citizens of other countries present should stand at attention. All persons present should face the flag, stand at attention and salute on the following occasions:
How To Dispose Of Worn Flags
Every precaution should be taken to prevent the flag from becoming soiled. When a flag is in such a condition, through wear or damage, that is no longer a fitting emblem for display, it should be destroyed privately in a dignified manner.
The Flag should NEVER:
The President signed this into law in July of 2006. The new law prohibits Condo Associations and other Real Estate Management companies from denying unit owners the right to display the American flag from their individual units. This new law means that even though homeowners may have signed an agreement that restricted modifications to the exterior of their condos or townhouses the display of the American flag is exempted from those rules. For more information visit Govtrack.us
When To Display the Flag
The flag should be displayed on all days when the weather permits, especially on legal holidays or other special occasions. It is customary to display the flag from sunrise to sunset on buildings or on stationary flagstaffs in the open. However, on special occasions it may be displayed at night, preferably lighted. The Flag should be displayed on or near the main administration building of every public institution-in or near polling places on election days-in or near schools when they are in session. A citizen may fly the flag on any day he wishes.
Click here for more information on Flag Holidays
How To Fly the Flag
The flag should be raised and lowered by hand. Never raise the flag while it is furled; unfurl, then hoist quickly to the peak of the flagstaff. It should be lowered slowly and ceremoniously. The flag should never be allowed to touch anything beneath it, such as the ground or the floor. The flying of the flag at half-staff is a sign of mourning. When flown at half-staff, the flag should be first hoisted to the peak, then immediately lowered to the half-staff position. It should be raised to the peak again for a moment before it is lowered for the day. Half-staff is the point midway between top and bottom of the flagstaff. On Memorial Day in May, the flag should fly at half-staff from sunrise until noon and at full-staff from noon until sunset.
How To Display the Flag
If the flag is displayed from a staff projected from a window sill, balcony or front of a building, the union of the flag should go to the peak of the staff (unless the flag is to be displayed at half-staff). When the flag is displayed in any manner other than being flown from a staff, it should be displayed flat, whether indoors or out. If 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 it should be suspended in the same way--that is, with the union to the left of the observer in the street. When displayed over the middle of the street, the Stars and Stripes should be suspended vertically with the union to the north on an east-west street and to the east on a north-south street. When the flag is suspended over a sidewalk from a rope extending from house to pole at the edge of the sidewalk, the flag should be hoisted out from the building toward the pole union first. When used on a speaker's platform the flag may be displayed flat, above and behind the speaker. If flown from a staff it should be on the speaker's right; all other flags on the platform should be on the speakers left. When it is displayed on the pulpit or chancel in a church, the flag should be flown from a staff placed on the clergyman's right as he faces the congregation. All other flags on the pulpit or chancel should be on the clergyman's left. When flags of states or cities, 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 flown from adjacent staffs, the Stars and Stripes should be raised first and lowered last. When used to cover a casket, the flag should be placed so 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. The casket should be carried foot-first from the hearse to the grave. The flag should not: be used as a costume or athletic uniform or part of one; be used as drapery of any sort whatsoever, never festooned, drawn back or up in folds, but always allowed to fall free. Bunting of blue, white and red-- always arranged with the blue above, white in the middle, and red below--should be used for such purposes of decoration as covering a speaker's desk or draping the front of a platform.When flown with flags of states, communities, or societies on separate flag poles which are of the same height and in a straight line, the flag of the United States is always placed in the position of honor - to its own right.
- • The other flags may be smaller, but none may be larger.
- • No other flag ever should be placed above it.
- • The flag of the United States is always the first flag raised and the last to be lowered.
Flying a Flag at Half Staff
The flying of the flag at half-staff is a sign of mourning. When flown at half-staff, the flag should be first hoisted to the peak, then immediately lowered to the half-staff position. It should be raised to the peak again for a moment before it is lowered for the day. Half-staff is the point midway between top and bottom of the flagstaff. On Memorial Day in May, the flag should fly at half-staff from sunrise until noon and at full-staff from noon until sunset.
Saluting the Flag
In saluting the flag, all persons present in uniform should render the military salute. Members of the Armed Forces and veterans who are present but not in uniform may render the military salute. All other persons present should face the flag and stand at attention with their right hand over the heart, or if applicable, remove their headdress with their right hand and hold it at the left shoulder, the hand being over the heart. Citizens of other countries present should stand at attention. All persons present should face the flag, stand at attention and salute on the following occasions:
- • When the flag is passing in a parade or review. The salute to the flag in the moving column is rendered at the moment the flag passes.
- • During the ceremony of hoisting or lowering the flag.
- • When the National Anthem is played and the flag is displayed.
- • During the Pledge of Allegiance
- When the National Anthem is played and the flag is not displayed, all present should stand and face toward the music. Those in uniform should salute at the first note of the anthem, retaining this position until the last note. All others should stand at attention, men removing their hats. When the flag is displayed, all present should face the flag and salute.
How To Dispose Of Worn Flags
Every precaution should be taken to prevent the flag from becoming soiled. When a flag is in such a condition, through wear or damage, that is no longer a fitting emblem for display, it should be destroyed privately in a dignified manner.
The Flag should NEVER:
- • Be tilted(dipped) even momentarily to any person or thing. Regimental colors, State flags, organization or institutional flags may be titled as the mark of honor.
- • Be displayed with the union down except as a signal of distress.
- • Be carried flat or horizontally, but always aloft and floating free.
- • Be displayed on a float, motor car or boat except from a staff.
- • Be allowed to touch the ground or floor, or brush against objects.
- • Have objects placed on, over it, or be used as a covering for a ceiling.
- • Have any mark, insignia, letter, work, figure, picture, or any drawing of any nature placed upon or attached to it.
- • Be used as a recepticle for carrying anything, or be used to cover a statue or monument. If used in connection with unveiling ceremonies, it should not serve as a covering of the object being unveiled.
- • Be used for advertising purposes or have advertising signs fastened to its staff or halyard.
- • Be embroidered on such articles as handkerchiefs or cushions, or be printed or otherwise impressed on boxes.
- • Be used as a costume or athletic uniform or part of one.
- • Be used as drapery of any sort whatsoever, never festooned, drawn back or up in folds, but always allowed to fall free. Bunting of blue, white and red-always arranged with the blue above, white in the middle and red below-should be used for such purposes of decoration as covering a speaker's desk or draping the front of a platform.
