- When should the flag be displayed?
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.
In several places, the flag flies day and night; among these
are the Capitol in Washington, D.C., and the Fort McHenry
National Monument in Baltimore, which was the inspiration
for "The Star Spangled Banner" by Francis Scott Key.
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.
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- What are the flag holidays?
New Year's Day -- January 1
Inauguration Day -- January 20 (Every 4th Year)
Lincoln's Birthday -- February 12
Washington's Birthday -- 3rd Mon in February
Easter Sunday -- Variable
Army Day -- April 6 (Navy Only)
Victory in Europe Day -- May 8
Mother's Day -- 2nd Sunday in May
Peace Officer's Memorial Day -- 2nd Sunday in May*
Armed Forces Day -- 3rd Saturday in May
Memorial Day -- Last Monday in May *
Traditional Memorial Day -- May 30 *
Flag Day -- June 14
Father's Day -- 3rd Sunday in June (Army Only)
Korean War Armistice Day -- June 27 *
Independence Day -- July 4
Labor Day -- 1st Monday in September
Victory in Japan Day -- September 2
Patriot Day -- September 11 *
Constitution Day -- September 17
POW/MIA Recognition Day -- 3rd Friday in Sept
Constitution Day -- 2nd Monday in October
Navy Day -- October 27 (Navy & Marine Corps Only)
Election Day -- 1st Tuesday in November
Marine Corps Birthday -- November 10th (Marine Corps Only)
Veteran's Day -- November 11
Thanksgiving Day -- 4th Thursday in November
Pearl Harbor Day -- December 7 *
Christmas Day -- December 25
* Flags flown at half staff all day except for Memorial Day.
On Memorial Day the flag is displayed at half-staff until
noon then hoisted to the top of the flagpole for the
remainder of the day.
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- 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. May 15th is
Peace Officers Memorial Day and all US flags are to be
displayed at half-staff. On Memorial Day in May, the flag
should fly at half-staff from sunrise until noon, and at
full-staff from noon until sunset. 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 of the United States, the Governor of that State,
territory or possession may proclaim that the National flag
may be flown at half-staff.
At sea services by Navy chaplains, the church pennant may be
flown above the flag.
No other flag may be flown above the United States flag
except at the United Nations Headquarters. The UN flag may
be placed above flags of all member nations. In the UN
enclave, national flags of all members are flown with equal
prominence.
When the flags of two or more nations are displayed
together, they should be flown from separate staffs of the
same height, and the flags should be of approximately equal
size. International usage forbids the display of the flag of
one nation above that of another in time of peace.
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- How to salute the flag?
In saluting the flag those present in uniform should render
the military salute. When not in uniform, men should remove
the hat with the right hand and hold it at the left
shoulder, the hand being over the heart. Women, and men
without hats, should place the right hand over the heart.
Aliens 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...I pledge
allegiance to the flag of the United States of America
and to the Republic for which it stands, one Nation,
under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for
all.
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
other should stand at attention, men removing their hats.
when the flag is displayed, all present should face the flag
and salute.
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- 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 (burned or sealed in a bag or box before being sent
out for trash collection).
To extend the life of a flag, when it is torn it should be
repaired and under no circumstances should a flag be folded
while wet.
The flag should NEVER...
- be tilted (dipped) even momentarily to any person or
thing. Regimental colors, State flags, organization or
institutional flags may be tilted as the mark of honor.
- be displayed with the union down except as a signal
of dire 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 drawing of any nature placed upon or attached
to it.
- be used as a receptacle 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 handkerchief 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.
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- When should a flag be flown 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. 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 of the United States, the Governor of that State,
territory or possession may proclaim that the National flag
may be flown at half-staff.
Below are holidays the American flag should be flown at half
staff.
Peace Officers Memorial Day (2nd Monday in May)
All US flags are to be displayed at half-staff.
Memorial Day (Last Monday in May) The flag should fly at
half-staff from sunrise until noon, and at full-staff from
noon until sunset.
Korean War Armistice Day (June 27th) All US flags are to be
displayed at half-staff.
Patriot Day (Sept 11th) All US flags are to be displayed at
half-staff.
Pearl Harbor Day (Dec 7th) All US flags are to be displayed
at half-staff.
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- How to display the flag?
When carried in a procession with another flag or flags, the
Stars and Stripes should be at the right-front of the
column, or when there is a line of other flags, in front of
the center of that line. The flag should never be carried
flat or horizontally, but always aloft and floating free.
When a number of flags are grouped and displayed from
staffs, the flag of the United States should be in the
center or at the highest point of the group. When displayed
with another flag from crossed staffs, the flag of the
United States should be on the right (the flag\'s own
right), and its staff should be in front of the staff of the
other 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 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. 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 right of the speaker\'s right as he
faces the audience. Note that from the perspective of the
audience looking at the speaker, the United States flag
should be to the left of the speaker. Any other flag should
be placed on the speaker\'s left or from the audience\'s
perspective, the right side of the speaker.
CHURCHES & AUDITORIUMS - 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 his left.
However, when the flag is displayed on the floor of a church
or auditorium, on a level with the audience, it is placed to
the right of the audience.
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.
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- What are the NEW guidelines for
saluting the American flag?
The US Senate has unanimously passed S. 1877, a bill which clarifies
U.S. law and allows veterans and service personnel not in
uniform to salute the flag. Current law states that veterans
and service personnel not in uniform, when saluting the
flag, place their hand over their heart.
"The salute is a form of honor and respect, representing
pride in one's military service, " Senator Jim Inholfe (R-Okla.)
said. "Veterans and service personnel continue representing
the military services even when not in uniform. I look
forward to seeing those who have served saluting proudly at
baseball games, parades and formal events. I believe this is
an appropriate way to honor and recognize the 25 million
veterans in the United States who have served in the
military and remain as role models to other citizens. Those
who are currently serving or have served in the military
have earned this right, and their recognition will be an
inspiration to others"
This bill was passed July 25th, 2007.
Let your veteran friend know about this new bill.
(Courtesy of the Sea Breeze Newport Harbor Post)
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