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American Flag
Protocol
Federal law stipulates many aspects of flag etiquette.
The section of law dealing with American Flag etiquette is generally
referred to as the Flag Code.
Some general guidelines from the Flag Code answer many of the most common
questions:
*The flag should
be lighted at all times, either by sunlight or by an appropriate light
source.
*The flag should
be flown in fair weather, unless the flag is designed for inclement
weather use.
*The flag should
never be dipped to any person or thing. It is flown upside down only as a
distress signal.
*The flag should
not be used for any decoration in general. Bunting of blue, white and red
stripes is available for these purposes. The blue stripe of the bunting
should be on the 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. Advertising signs should not be attached to the staff or
halyard.
*The flag should
not be used as part of a costume or athletic uniform, except that a flag
patch may be used on the uniform of military personnel, fireman, policeman
and members of patriotic organizations.
*The flag should
never have any mark, insignia, letter, word, number, figure, or drawing of
any kind
placed on it, or attached to it.
*The flag should
never be used for receiving, holding, carrying, or delivering anything.
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
be cleaned and mended when necessary.
When a flag is so worn it is no longer fit to serve as a symbol of our
country, it should be destroyed by burning in a
dignified manner.
(see below for link)
Rules for Display of the American
Flag
Display Outdoors
*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.
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. By "half-staff" is meant
lowering the flag to one-half the distance
between the top and bottom of the staff. Crepe streamers may be affixed to
spear heads or flagstaffs in a parade
only by order of the President of the United States.
Flown on the Same Halyard with Non-Nation
Flags
The American Flag 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 right of the flag of the United States.
Suspended Over a Sidewalk
The flag may be suspended 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.
From a Staff Projecting Horizontally or at
an Angle
The flag may be projected from the window sill, balcony, or front of a
building, with the union of the flag placed
at the peak of the staff unless the flag is at half-staff.
In a Parade with Other Flags
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.
With Non-National Flags
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.
With Other National Flags
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.
With Another Flag Against a Wall from
Crossed Staffs
Should be on the right, the flag's own right which is the viewer's left,
and its staff should be in front of the staff
of the other flag.
Display Indoors
From a Staff in a Church or Public
Auditorium on a Podium
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 (to the right of the audience).
From a Staff in a Church or Public
Auditorium off the Podium
Custom and not the flag code hold that the flag of the United States of
America should hold the position of superior
prominence as part of the audience, in the position of honor at the
audience's right.
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.
Other than being Flown from a Staff
The flag should be displayed flat, whether indoors or out. 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 it should be displayed in the same way, that is
with the union or blue field to the left of the
observer in the street. When festoons, rosettes or draping are desired,
bunting of blue, white and red should be used,
but never the flag.
Meaning behind a flag draped coffin
Proper Disposal for an unserviceable flag Source:
The American Legion
More information on honoring & displaying of US
Flag
Source:
DAV |
