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FLAG ETIQUETTE |
- When to display the flag
- How to fly the flag
- How to display the flag
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- Saluting the flag
- How to dispose of worn
- Additional flag guidelines
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WHEN TO DISPLAY THE FLAG |
| The flag should be display 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 display at night, preferably lighted. In several places
the flag flies day and night; among these are the Capital in Washington, DC
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 or
she wishes. |
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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 of the flagstaff, 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 be
at half-staff from sunrise until noon, and at full-staff from noon until
sunset. |
| For flags which
cannot be lowered to a half-staff position, a Black Ribbon, the length
of the flag, should be tied above the star-field and allowed to fly with the
flag to show of mourning. |
| When the nation
mourns, it is appropriate to fly your flag at half-staff for a period of 30
days. |
| 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 (UN) 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 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 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 of
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 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 should be on the speaker's 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 clergy's 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 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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SALUTING 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. 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.
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| 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. |
| ADDITIONAL
FLAG GUIDELINES |
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, nut always allowed to fall
free. Bunting of blue white and red- always arranged with the blue above,
white in the middle, and the 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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