Flag Etiquette

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.

Guidelines for Displaying the Flag

The flag of the United States should be flown daily from sunrise to sunset in good weather from public buildings, schools, permanent staffs, and in or near polling places on election days. The flag may be displayed 24 hours a day on patriotic holidays or if properly illuminated.
The flag should not be displayed on days when the weather is bad, except when an all-weather flag is used.
The flag should always be flown on national and state holidays and on those occasions proclaimed by the President. On Memorial Day, the flag should be half staffed until noon.
The flag should be hoisted briskly and lowered ceremoniously. It should never be dipped to any person not should it ever be displayed with the union down, except as a signal of dire distress.
The flag should never touch anything beneath it, nor should it ever be carried flat or horizontally.
It should never be used as wearing apparel, bedding, drapery, or decoration, nor for carrying or holding anything.
The flag should never be fastened, displayed, used, or stored in such a manner as to be easily torn, soiled, or damaged. It should never be used as a covering for a ceiling.
The flag should not be draped over the hood, top, sides, or back of a vehicle. When a flag is displayed on a car, the flag's staff should be fixed firmly to the chassis or clamped to the right fender.
The flag or its staff should never be used for advertising purposes in any manner whatsoever. Nor should any picture, drawing, insignia or other decoration be placed on or attached to the flag, its staff, or halyard.
The flag should not be embroidered on cushions, handkerchiefs, or other personal items nor printed on anything designed for temporary use and discarded. However, a flag patch may be affixed to the uniform of military personnel, firemen, policemen, or members of other patriotic organizations.
When the flag is so worn or soiled that it is no longer suitable for display, it should be destroyed in a dignified manner, preferably by burning.

Displaying the Flag at Half-Staff

When flying the flag at half-staff, the flag should be raised to the top of the staff for an instant then lowered to the mid-way point of the staff (half-staff). It should be raised to the top of the staff again before lowering the flag at the end of the day. The flag is flown at half-staff at full staff for the remainder of the day.

In the event of the death of principal figures of the United States government and the governor of the state, territory or possession, the president may order the flag to be flown at half-staff as respect for their memory. In the event of the death of other officials or foreign dignitaries, the flag is displayed at half-staff in accordance with the presidents instructions or orders or in accordance with recognized customs or practices, not inconsistent with law.

The governor of a state, territory or possession of the United States may proclaim that the national flag be flown at half-staff in the event of the death of a present or former official of that state, territory or possession.

On Memorial Day the flag should be displayed at half-staff until noon.

Folding the American Flag

1. Bring the striped half up over the blue field.

2. Then fold it in half again.

3. Bring the lower striped corner to the upper edge forming a triangle.

4. Then fold the upper point in to form another triangle. Continue until the entire length of the flag is folded.

5. When you get near the end - nothing but the blue field showing - tuck the last bit into the other folds to secure it.

Flag Etiquette

How to Display the Flag

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.
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 [that means the viewer's left -- editor], and its staff should be in front of the staff of the other flag.
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. 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.
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 right of the flag of the United States.
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.
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 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.
When the flag is displayed in a manner other than by being flown from a staff, it 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 drapings are desired, bunting of blue, white and red should be used, but never the flag.
That 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.
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 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.
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.

Flag-Flying Holidays

                         Flag-Flying Holidays


     New Year's Day      Lincoln's Birthday       Washington's Birthday
     Armed Forces Day    Memorial Day             Flag Day
     Independence Day    V-J Day                  Labor Day
     Thanksgiving        Veterans' Day            Pearl Harbor Day
     Christmas           State Admission Day


FLAG FLYING HOLIDAYS
 
NEW YEAR'S DAY............................January 1 
MARTIN LUTHER KING DAY.........Third Monday in January 
INAUGURATION DAY.....................January 20 (every 4 years) 
LINCOLN'S BIRTHDAY..................February 12 
PRESIDENT'S DAY...........................Third Monday in February 
WASHINGTON'S BIRTHDAY.........February 22 
EASTER SUNDAY..............................Variable 
ARMY DAY........................................April 6 
V-E DAY..............................................May 8 
MOTHER'S DAY................................Second Sunday in May 
ARMED FORCES DAY......................Third Sunday in May 
MEMORIAL DAY...............................Last Monday in May 
FLAG DAY..........................................June 14 
FATHER'S DAY..................................Third Sunday in June 
INDEPENDENCE DAY........................July 4 
LABOR DAY......................................First Monday in September 
V-J DAY..............................................September 2 
CONSTITUTION DAY.......................September 17 
COLUMBUS DAY..............................Second Monday in October 
NAVY DAY..........................................October 27 
PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION DAY.......First Tuesday after first Monday in November 
VETERAN'S DAY.................................November 11 
THANKSGIVING DAY........................Fourth Thursday in November 
PEARL HARBOR DAY.......................December 7 
CHRISTMAS DAY..............................December 25