Florida (27th state) March 3, 1845
(9th U.S. Flag Design/27-Stars)
**Date of Admission to the Union**
My Home State
This information obtained from: Florida Department of State
Protocol and Display
The United States Flag
The United States flag is considered a living thing, the union being the honor point. The right arm is the sword arm and therefore the point of danger; hence, the right is the place of honor. The edge of the flag which is toward the staff is the heraldic dexter or right edge. The union of the flag, and the flag itself when in company with other flags, is always given the honor point, i.e., the marching right, the flag's own right, or an observer's left.
As with all flags, the National Flag should be raised and lowered by hand. Do not raise the flag while it is furled. Unfurl, then hoist quickly to the top of the staff. Lower it slowly and with dignity. Place no object on or cover the flag. Do not use the flag to cover a speaker's table.
Other Approved Customs
Laws have been written to govern the use of flags and to insure a proper respect for them Custom has decreed certain other observances in regard to their use.
The United States Flag should be saluted on four occasions:
During the Pledge of Allegiance,
When the National Anthem is played and the Flag is displayed,
When passing in a parade or in review,
During the ceremony of hoisting or lowering the Flag.
Those present in uniform should render ther right-hand salute. When not in uniform, men should remove their headdress with the right hand and hold it at the left shoulder, the hand being over the heart; women should place the right hand over the heart.
The United States and Florida Flag may be displayed on all days when the weather permits *Added by Skyarcher....unless All-weather Flag is used* and should be flown especially on:
New Years Day, January 1
National Inauguration Day,
Lincoln's Birthday, February 12
Washington's Birthday, February 22
Easter Sunday, variable
Mother's Day, second Sunday in May
Armed Forces Day, third Saturday in May
Memorial Day, May 30
Flag Day, June 14
Father's Day, third Sunday in June
Independence Day, July 4
Labor Day, first Monday in September
Constitution and Citizenship Day, September 17
Columbus Day, October 12
Navy day, October 27
Veteran's Day, November 11
Thanksgiving Day, fourth Thursday in November
Christmas Day, December 25
Other days may be proclaimed by the President of the United States.
The birthdays (dates of admission) of States, Florida, March 3, 1845, State holidays, and by custom and tradition on other such days as may be directed by the Cabinet of Governor of Florida, should also be honored by display of the Flag.
Many persons observe the custom of displaying the Flag only from sunrise to sunset on outside flagpoles. (Display of the Flag night and day is not required to be authorized by law.) There are 14 known places where the National Flag is flown night and day - the first four, officially by law, and the last ten, traditionally:
Fort McHenry, Baltimore, Maryland
Flag House Square, Baltimore, Maryland
Marine Corps Memorial (Iwo Jima Statue), Arlington, Virginia
Green of the Town of Lexington, Massachusetts
U.S. Capitol (over the East and West fronts of the center)
Grave of Francis Scott Key, Frederick, Maryland
World War Memorial, Worcester, Massachusetts
Cemetery (Civilian), Dead Wood, South Dakota
The Plaza, Taos, New Mexico
Birthplace of Francis Scott Key, Keysville, Maryland
Mount Stover, Colton, California
Pike's Peak, Colorado
Little Bighorn Battlefield, Montana
Mount Suribachi, on the Island of Iwo Jima, in the Pacific Ocean
A storm flag made of bunting material should be flown during inclement weather, when display of the flags are considered appropriate.
The Florida Statutes require that the United States Flag be displayed daily, when weather permits, from a staff upon the State Capitol and upon each county courthouse. It must also be flown at all designated polling places on all days when weather permits, by every publicly supported school, institution of higher learning, or other educational institution, except when closed for vacation.
Flags should never be displayed upside down except as a signal of dire distress.
Do not use flags as a portion of a costume or athletic uniform. Do not embroider them on cushions or handkerchiefs, nor print them on paper napkins or boxes.
A federal law provides that a trademark cannot be registered which consists of, or comprises, among other things, "the flag, coat of arms, or other insignia of the United States, or any simulation thereof."
When Flags are used in unveiling a statue or monument, the should not serve as a covering of the object to be unveiled. If displayed on such occasions, do not allow the flags to fall to the ground, but carry them aloft to form a feature of the ceremony.
take every precaution to prevent flags from becoming soiled. They should not be allowed to touch the ground or floor, not to brush against objects.
The United States Flag should not be dipped to any person or thing, with one exception: Navy vessels, upon receiving a salute of this type from a vessel registered by a nation formally recognized by the United States, must return the compliment.
When carried, flags should always be aloft and free, never flat or horizontal.
Never use flags as drapery of any sort whatsoever. Bunting of blue, white, and red - arranged with the blue above, the 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.
Do not use flags as a receptacle for receiving, holding, carrying, or delivering anything. never place upon the flag, or attach to it, any mark, insignia, letter, word, figure, design, picture, or drawing of any nature.
No other flag may be flown above the Stars and Stripes, except:
The United Nations flag at U.N. Headquarters,
The church pennant, a dark blue cross on a white background, during church services conducted by naval chaplains at sea.
When the flying edge of a flag becomes slightly worn, it may be mended by hemming or stitching. However, when in such condition that it is no longer a fitting emblem for display, the flag should be destroyed in a dignified way, preferable by burning it privately.
The United Nations Flag
The United Nations Flag may be displayed alone or with one or more other flags to demonstrate support of the United Nations and to further its principles and purposes.
When the United Nations Flag is displayed with one or more other flags, all flags should be displayed on the same level and should be of approximately equal size.
On no account may any flag displayed with the United Nations Flag be displayed on a higher level that the United Nations Flag and on no account may any flag displayed with the United Nations Flag be larger than the United Nations Flag. When displayed with the United States Flag at locations other than the United Nations Headquarters, the United States Flag always commands the honor position.
The United Nations Flag may be displayed on either side of any other flag without being deemed subordinated to any such flag.
The United Nations Flag should never be carried flat or horizontally, but always aloft and free.
The Flag should never be used as a drapery of any sort, never fastened, drawn back, nor up, in folds, but always allowed to fall free.
In a closed circle of flags, flags other than the United Nations Flag, should be displayed in the English alphabetical order of the countries represented by the flags reading clockwise. The flagpole immediately opposite the main entrance of the main building determines the beginning of the circle.
In line, cluster, or semi-circle groupings, all flags other than the United Nations Flag should be displayed in the English alphabetical order of the countries represented by the flags starting from left and reading clockwise. The United Nations Flag should either be displayed in the center of the line, cluster, or semi-circle, or, in cases where two United Nations Flags are available, at either end of the line, cluster, or semi-circle.
The national flag of the country in which the display takes place should appear in its normal position according to the English alphabetical order.
When the country in which the display takes place wishes to make a special display of its national flag, such a display can only be made where the arrangement of the flags takes the form of a line, cluster, or semi-circle grouping, in which case the national flag of the country in which the display is taking place should be displayed at each end of the line of flags separated from the grouping by an interval of not less that one-fifth of the total length of the line.
Authorities: Office of Armed Forces Information and Education; Department of Defense; United States Marine Corps Flag Manual; United Nations Flag Code and Regulations as amended July 28, 1950; The Institute of Heraldry, United States Army.
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