Everything You Need to Know About Flag Rules
The American flag is a strong symbol of the pride, history, commitment to citizens of the U.S. and principles that the United States stands for. The flag represents the battles we have faced as a nation, as well as the freedom we all have. Americans who want to honor the nation and remember those who died fighting for our freedom display patriotic flag patches on their clothes or can wear an American flag hat proudly. Others fly the flag in front of their home and honor it in many other ways.
But while everyone means well when displaying the flag, many don’t know the flag rules to follow in order to not disrespect it. So, here is everything you need to know about flag rules. First, though, let’s start with some history on the American flag.
The History of the American Flag
The American flag dates back to June 14, 1777, when the Continental Congress officially established an act on the flag for the newly freed United States. Of course, the new nation was quite different than our country is today. There were only 13 colonies and the country was feeling extremely patriotic over their hard-fought victory to free the nation from Great Britain.
This new flag had several names–the Grand Union Flag, the Somerville Flag, the Cambridge Flag and the Union Flag. The resolution stated, “Resolved, that the flag of the thirteen United States shall be thirteen stripes, alternate red and white; that the Union be thirteen stars, white on a blue field, representing a new Constellation.”
The person who designed the flag is unknown, but many historians believed New Jersey Congressman Francis Hopkinson designed the flag and Betsy Ross sewed it.
Many people call the U.S. flag Old Glory, and that was the name given by a sea captain from Massachusetts named William Driver. During the Civil War, many people tried to damage his flag, but Driver was still able to fly his flag over the Tennessee Statehouse at the end of the war. William Driver’s flag lives on today at the National Museum of American History. It was last on display–with permission from the Smithsonian–in Tennessee in 2006.
The museum is also working on a project to preserve a large garrison flag from 1814 that managed to survive more than a day of constant shelling at Fort McHenry in Baltimore.
The flag is often referred to as the Star-Spangled Glory and was the inspiration for the song “The Star-Spangled Banner” by Francis Scott Key. Key composed the song after the flag was still flying over Fort McHenry after a British bombardment, but it wasn’t the national anthem until 1931.
This flag, stored in filtered light and a special low-oxygen chamber, is periodically examined at a microscopic level by experts to check for signs of damage or decay.
The American flag also inspired James B. Upham and Francis Bellamy to author “The Pledge of Allegiance” in 1892. The pledge was first published in the magazine The Youth’s Companion.
Today, there are several places where the flag is flown 24/7, either by law or presidential proclamation:
- The White House in Washington, D.C.
- Grounds of the National Memorial Arch in Valley Forge State Park, Valley Forge, Pennsylvania
- Fort McHenry, National Monument and Historic Shrine, Baltimore, Maryland
- United States Marine Corps Memorial (Iwo Jima), Arlington, Virginia
- United States Customs ports of entry
- Flag House Square, Baltimore, Maryland
- On the Green of the Town of Lexington, Massachusetts
The flag looks different than it did back in 1777. The 13 horizontal red and white alternating stripes represent the original 13 colonies. The 50 white stars displayed on a blue background represent the current 50 states of America. The red symbolizes valor and hardiness, the white innocence and purity and the blue represents justice, vigilance and perseverance.
When You Can Display the Flag
The American flag symbolizes patriotism, honor and respect. There are guidelines for when to display the flag on any given day of the year.
Congress passed a joint resolution on June 22, 1942 that was later amended on December 22, 1942 that covered what we now know today as the U.S. Flag Code. The most critical guideline in the amendment describes how U.S. citizens should behave around the flag. Old Glory has been the emblem of America’s identity as a sovereign nation for over 200 years now.
It represents our freedom as a nation and honors the lives of the men and women who died fighting for it over the last 200 years. Veterans and armed service members should stand at attention while saluting the flag. Citizens honor the flag by putting their right hand over their heart.
Customarily, the American flag can be displayed openly on flagstaffs daily from sunrise to sunset. However, during inclement weather, the flag is not to be flown. It can be displayed any day, but especially on the following days:
- New Year’s Day–January 1
- Inauguration Day–January 20
- Martin Luther King Jr.’s Birthday–Third Monday in January
- Abraham Lincoln’s Birthday–February 12
- George Washington’s Birthday–Third Monday in February
- Easter Sunday–Varied
- 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
- Father’s Day–Third Sunday in June
- 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
- Christmas Day–December 25
- State Holidays
- Birthdays of States–Date of Admission
The president may proclaim other days.
Additionally, every public institution should display the flag and it should be displayed in polling places on election days. Schools should also display the flag on school days.
How to Display the American Flag
There are several rules for displaying the flag correctly. Unless you have an all-weather flag, you should not fly it in bad weather. The American flag shouldn’t be displayed at night unless it’s properly illuminated. In times of a national or state mourning, the flag should fly at half-mast. You’ll also see this practice when a police officer or public figure dies or to commemorate the victims of 9/11/2001 on Patriot Day.
- In a procession, the flag should be displayed to the right of a single flag. When displaying the flag in a line of flags, it should be in front of the center.
- When the American flag hangs vertically on a door, wall or window, the blue section, or Union section, should be to the left of the observer. When it’s hung vertically or horizontally against a wall, the blue section should be to the left of the observer.
- When the flag is draped over a casket, the Union side should be over the left shoulder and at the head.
- When the American flag is on a platform, it should be behind the speaker to the observer’s left with the Union uppermost.
- When flown from a staff or pole projecting from a building, the Union section of the flag should rest at the peak of the staff.
- When you display the American flag over a street, it should suspend vertically with the blue section to the east in a south and north street. Or place it so the blue section is north in a west or east street.
- When displaying the American flag any way other than on a staff, it’s suspended so that the folds fall freely as if the flag were on a staff. When not displayed on a staff, you should lay the flag flat, whether displayed outdoors or inside.
- When displaying the flag from a staff in an auditorium or church, it should be placed to the right of the speaker. As the speaker faces the audience, the flag is then in a position of honor.
How to Display the Flag with Other Flags
In the U.S., no other flag should be displayed in superior prominence or above the American flag except at the U.N. headquarters.
- When you are displaying flags of two or more nations, fly them from separate staffs, each of the same height. The U.S. flag should be raised first and then lowered last.
- When being displayed with another flag against a wall from crossed staffs, the American flag should be on the right with its staff in front of the other.
- When the American flag is flown from the same halyard with the flags of cities, states, etc., it should be at the peak. It should also be flown at the highest point and center.
- When flying the United Nations flag, the U.S. flag has superior prominence except at the U.N. headquarters.
How to Display the American Flag on a Vehicle
The American flag should not be draped over the top, sides, back of or hood of a vehicle. It should only be displayed on a float from a staff.
Be sure to fix the flag firmly to the chassis if you plan to display it on a vehicle.
Lowering and Hoisting the Flag
The American flag should be lowered ceremoniously and hoisted briskly.
When flying a flag at half-staff, there are specific ways to hoist and lower it. The flag remains there for a specific amount of time, depending on the reason for lowering the flag. Half-staff is half the difference between the bottom and top of the flagpole or staff. The flag must fly half-staff on the death of any of the people below:
- For a current or former president–30 days from the date of his death
- For a current or retired chief justice of the U.S. or vice president–10 days from the day of death
- For a former vice president, member of the Cabinet, Supreme Court associate justice, the president pro tempore of the Senate or the majority or minority leader of the House of Representatives–from the day of death until interment
- For a U.S. senator, delegate, representative or the resident commissioner of the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico–the flag should be lowered on the day of death and the following day in the metropolitan area of D.C. In the state, territory, commonwealth or congressional district of the representative, commissioner, senator or delegate–from the day of death until interment
- For a governor–the flag will be flown half-staff in the territory, possession or state from the day of death until interment
First, it should be hoisted all the way up to the peak just for an instant and then lowered to half-mast. Before it’s lowered at the end of the day, it should be raised again to the peak.
When Storing the American Flag or Displaying It in a Case
Flags should be stored in an area that’s well-ventilated. It must be dry and folded properly into a triangle, with the blue section visible. If the flag is worn out or damaged, you should dispose of it with great dignity.
It’s vital to honor the flag and give it great respect because of what it means to the American people. The U.S. flag represents the very values that so many men and women have died protecting, and we must always remember this.
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