Hawkinsville Chapter, NSDAR
The music you are listening to is "Stars and Stripes Forever"!
The Flag of the United States of America &
Standards of Respect For It
It is the universal custom to display the flag only from sunrise to sunset on buildings and on stationary flagstaffs in the open. However, when a patriotic effect is desired, the flag may be displayed twenty-four hours a day if properly illuminated during the hours of darkness.
The flag should not be displayed on days when the weather is inclement, except when an all weather flag is displayed.
The flag should not be displayed on a float in a parade except from a staff. The flag should not be draped over the hood, top, sides or back of a vehicle or of a railroad train or boat. When the flag is displayed on a motor car, the staff shall be fixed firmly to the chassis or clamped to the right fender. The flag should never be carried flat or horizontally, but always aloft and free.
The flag should never be used as wearing apparel, bedding, or drapery. It should never be festooned, drawn back, nor up, in folds, but always allowed to fall free. The flag should never be used as covering for a ceiling. The flag should never be used for advertising purposes in any manner whatsoever. It should not be embroidered on such articles as cushions or handkerchiefs and the like, printed or otherwise impressed on paper napkins or boxes or anything that is designed for temporary use and discard.
The Flag Code, which formalizes and unifies the traditional ways in which we give respect to the flag, also contains specific instructions on how the flag is not to be used. They are as follows.
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 as a drapery, or for covering a speaker’s desk, draping a platform, or 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 placed on it, or attached to it, any mark, insignia, letter, word, number, figure, or drawing of any kind. The flag should never be used as a receptacle 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 retired (destroyed) by burning in a dignified manner.
Displaying the Flag Outdoors
When the flag is displayed from a staff projecting from a window, balcony, or a building, the union should be at the peak of the staff unless the flag is at half-staff. When it is displayed from the same flagpole with another flag - of a state, community, society or Scout unit - the flag of the United States must always be at the top except that the church pennant may be flown above the flag during church services for Navy personnel when conducted by a Naval chaplain on a ship at sea. When the flag is displayed over a street, it should be hung vertically, with the union to the north or east. If the flag is suspended over a sidewalk, the flag's union should be farthest from the building.
When flown with flags of states, communities, or societies on separate flagpoles, which are of the same height and in a straight line, the flag of the United States is always placed in the position of honor - to its own right. The other flags may be smaller but none may be larger. No other flag ever should be placed above it. The flag of the United States is always the first flag raised and the last to be lowered. When flown with the national banner of other countries, each flag must be displayed from a separate pole of the same height. Each flag should be the same size. They should be raised and lowered simultaneously. The flag of one nation may not be displayed above that of another nation.
Displaying the Flag Indoors
When on display, the flag is accorded the place of honor, always positioned to its own right. Place it to the right of the speaker or staging area or sanctuary. Other flags should be to the left. 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, localities, or societies are grouped for display. When one flag is used with the flag of the United States of America and the staffs are crossed, the flag of the United States is placed on its own right with its staff in front of the other flag. When displaying the flag against a wall, vertically or horizontally, the flag's union (stars) should be at the top, to the flag's own right, and to the observer's left.
Parading & Saluting the Flag
When carried in a procession, the flag should be to the right of the marchers. When other flags are carried, the flag of the United States may be centered in front of the others or carried to their right. When the flag passes in a procession, or when it is hoisted or lowered, all should face the flag and salute.
During the ceremony of hoisting or lowering the flag or when the flag is passing in a parade or in review, all persons present except those in uniform should face the flag and stand at attention with the right hand over the heart. Men with head cover should remove it and hold it to left shoulder, hand over the heart. Those present in uniform should render the military salute. Members of organizations in formation salute upon command of the person in charge. The salute to the flag in a moving column should be rendered at the moment the flag passes.
Standing at attention, facing the flag, and saluting, should render the pledge of allegiance. When the national anthem is played or sung, citizens should stand at attention and salute at the first note and hold the salute through the last note. The salute is directed to the flag, if displayed, otherwise to the music.
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."
--From "The Flag Code," distributed by the National Society, Daughters of the American Revolution, 1776 D Street, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20006-5303 and
the United States Code Title 36 Chapter 10 §173 - §177
An Honorable Flag Retirement Ceremony
National Society of the Sons of the American Revolution
Ritual for the Disposal of Unserviceable Flags
Welcome, Inspection of the Flags
At the commencement of the ceremony, the President faces the Master-at-Arms. The assemblage, in general, is standing "At Ease."
President: "Master-at-Arms, report!"
Master-at-Arms: "Compatriot President, we have a number of unserviceable Flags of our great nation for inspection and appropriate disposal."
President: "Former President _________________ and Vice President _________________ please conduct an inspection of the flags presented for disposal."
The Former President (FP) and Vice President (VP) close toward one another, turn and march together toward the Flag Disposal Detail, halting two paces before the Master-at-Arms (MAA). The MAA calls his detail to attention as the FP and the VP close the detail. The MAA advances one pace once the FP and the VP are in place and faces the FP.
Master-at-Arms: "Former President _________________ we present these unserviceable flags for your inspection."
Former President: "Master-at-Arms, are these unserviceable flags in their present condition as a result of usual service as the emblem of our great nation?"
Master-at-Arms: "These flags have become soiled, faded, tattered, or torn while marking the graves of our beloved, departed compatriots and of our honored veterans, men and women of all branches of our military services, the dead of all our nation's wars!"
The FP can then inspect the flags to his satisfaction, returning to his position before the MAA. (The MAA should accompany the FP on his inspection.)
Former President: "Thank you, Master-at-Arms."
The FP turns to the VP.
Former President: "Vice President _________________, conduct your inspection."
Master-at-Arms: "Vice President _________________ we present these unserviceable flags, which have been inspected by Former President _________________, for your additional inspection."
Vice President: "Master-at-Arms, have any of these flags served purposes other than those you mentioned to Former President _________________?"
Master-at-Arms: "Some of these flags have been flown proudly from flagstaffs before the homes of our individual citizens in rememberance of our several national holidays and from public and commercial flagpoles as a constant reminder of the greatness of these United States of America!"
The VP can then inspect the flags to his satisfaction, returning to his position before the MAA. (The MAA should accompany the VP on his inspection.)
Vice President: "Thank you, Master-at-Arms."
Following the questioning of the MAA and the inspections of the flags by the FP and VP, the FP and VP about face, cross over, and march to stand before the President.
President: "Have the two of you conducted inspections of the unserviceable flags?"
Former President and Vice President: "We have!"
President: "Vice President _________________ what are your findings, and what do you recommend?"
Vice President: "Compatriot President, I find that these flags have become unserviceable as a result of proud and worthy service. I recommend they be honorably retired from further service and appropriately destroyed."
President: "Thank you, Vice President . Former President _________________, what are your findings and what do you recommend?"
Former President: "Compatriot President, I find that these flags have become unserviceable ... soiled, faded, tattered or torn as a result of their use in paying honor and tribute to our departed compatriots and deceased military veterans. I, too, recommend that they be destroyed with solemn dignity."
President: "Thank you, Former President __________________. You two may return to your initial stations."
The FP and VP about face, cross over and return to their respective initial stations. Once they are in place, the President addresses the assemblage.
Commendation and Destruction of the Flags
President: "My fellow compatriots and friends. We have had presented here these flags of our great nation; flags which have previously provided proud and worthy service; flags which have paid tribute to our honored dead. They have been inspected and found to be no longer serviceable. It has been recommended that they be appropriately destroyed with solemn dignity. This, we shall do.
"As you all well know, the flag of the United States is flown in all sizes -- from the extremely small to the magnificently large -- and is made from many types of fabric, from the cheapest of gauze to the finest of silk. Yet, despite its size, material or intrinsic value, the true, priceless worth of our great flag is that it serves as the visible symbol of the ideal aspirations of the people of the United States -- freedom, liberty, and justice -- within a nation of the people, by the people and for the people.
"In retiring these no longer serviceable symbols of our wonderful nation, let us replace them in their duties with new, fresh, bright flags of equal size and kind. May the replacements amplify our pride in the showing and flying of our beautiful national colors!
"Master-at-Arms, assemble the Color Guard on your Flag Disposal Detail, proceed to the burn site, and destroy these flags by burning.
"Compatriots and friends, Stand at attention!"
The Flag Disposal Detail about faces. The Color Guard forms on the Detail. Preceded by the Color Guard, the Detail marches down center to the burn site. National Colors cross over and take position on the right of the fire, facing the President. Chapter Colors take position on the left of the fire. The Detail forms up behind the fire, which is burning low.
President: "The Chaplain will offer prayer."
Chaplain: "Our Dear Heavenly Father, Commander over all, we ask that you bless and consecrate this special occasion. "We thank Thee for our country and the many ideals for which it stands and for our flag, which visibly symbolizes our nation's aspirations. "To clean and purging flame we commit these flags ... flags no longer serviceable due to their long previous honorable and worthy service. As they give up their substance to the fire, may your Spirit touch all of us, renewing and strenthening our dedication and devotion to our great United States of America. Amen."
President: "Hand Salute!"
Color Guards present arms. Chapter colors are dipped. All officers, guests and compatriots, except those on the Flag Disposal Detail, salute. Members of the Flag Disposal Detail dip the unserviceable flags in kerosene and place them on a rack over the fire. The bugler sounds To the Colors.
President: (At the conclusion of the bugle call) "Two!"
[If the situation is correct, neighbors aware of what you plan to do, and if a firing squad as well as a bugler is available, you could replace "To the Colors" in the ceremony with the firing squad firing three volleys followed by the bugler sounding "Taps."]
Following "Two!" the Color Guard resumes its station, and members of the Flag Disposal Detail resumes formation behind the fire. The Color Guard advances up center and places Colors. With Colors in place the President closes the ceremony.
President: "My fellow Compatriots and friends. This completes our ceremony. Thank you all very much for sharing in this special Flag Day event!"
NOTES
1. Should the chapter find itself with insufficient personnel/materiel support to meet the proposed needs for conducting such a ceremony, modify the ceremony as necessary and improvise/substitute as appropriate. Be flexible! You can still conduct a most meaningful and solemn ceremony. Suggestions: Borrow a chaplain from some veterans' organization or church. Use Boy Scouts in your Color Guard and/or Flag Disposal Detail. Use taped music/loudspeaker instead of a bugler.
2. Invite the public and other organizations who conduct such ceremonies, Boy Scouts, Veterans Organizations, Elks Clubs, National Guard and Reserve Units, to attend your ceremony and be supportive of other organizations when they conduct similar ceremonies. Suggestion: Work with your United Veterans Council or other local activities-coordinating organizations to set up a rotation for the annual conduct of such ceremonies. The SAR would conduct the ceremony one year and then support the American Legion, Boy Scouts, Elks, etc. when it is their turn to conduct the ceremony.
Credit: URL: http://www.sar.org/colors/retiflag.htm
January 1st - New Year's Day 
