The Flag of the
United States of America Etiquette

When flown from a pole the fly end of the flag should be able to fly freely. Do not secure it to a frame. The flag should never be carried flat or horizontally, but always aloft and free. Display the flag only during daylight in good weather. Take it down when it gets dark or if it starts to rain or snow. You may display it at night in good weather if it is lighted. Do not let the flag touch the ground, water, buildings, or merchandise. 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. On Memorial Day, the flag should be displayed at half-staff until noon only, then raised to the top of the staff.

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.

When displayed on a wall, the flag's blue field (canton) should be on the left as you view it. When displayed in a window, the flag should be displayed in the same way with the blue field to the left of the observer in the street.

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. 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. The U.S. Flag should not be displayed on a float in a parade except from a staff.   When the U.S. 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.

Respecting the Flag The flag should not be draped on a car or podium. Instead use red, white, and blue bunting with the blue at the top. If the flag is used to cover a casket the canton should be placed over the left shoulder. Remove the flag before lowering the casket into the grave. Do not use the flag for advertising a product and do not print or embroider the flag on anything designed for temporary use and discard. No part of the flag should ever be used as a costume or athletic uniform.   However, a flag patch or lapel pin may be affixed to the uniform of military personnel, firemen, policemen, and members of patriotic organizations.  The lapel pin, being a replica, should be worn on the left lapel near the heart. When the flag is no longer fit for duty (threadbare, faded, torn, or dirty) it should be destroyed in a dignified manner (preferably by burning). Books on Flags and Flag Etiquette What You Should Know about the American Flag, 2nd rev. ed. by Earl P. Williams, Jr. (Thomas Publications, Gettysburg PA, 1992) - 52 pages 5.5 x 8.5 inches, a concise history of the U.S. flag with many one-page stories of special flags, suitable to supplement grade school history classes. Your Flag, compiled by Al Stenzel (Boy Scouts of America, Irving TX, 1986 - and likely later editions) - 64 pages 7 x 10 inches, history, use, and ceremonies for the U.S. flag and many others in U.S. history. The Stars and Stripes, by Boelslaw and Marie-Louise D'Orange Mastai (Amon Carter Museum, Fort Worth TX, 1973) - 64 pages 8.5 x 9.5 inches, a book written for the bicentennial of the Declaration of Independence, giving the history of the "stars and stripes" and presenting 144 color and 157 monochrome photos of historic U.S. flags. Flags to Color from the American Revolution (Bellerophon Books, Santa Barbara CA, 1996) - 32 pages 8.5 by 5.5 inches, a coloring book with dozens of national, militia, and naval flags, including brief notes on their creation and use. This will interest both grade schoolers and history buffs. The Story of Our Flag, (Bellerophon Books, Santa Barbara CA, 1996) - 32 pages 8.5 x 11 inches, a coloring book with dozens of national, militia, and naval flags, including brief notes on their creation and use. This will interest both grade schoolers, high schoolers, and history buffs. For more information on flag etiquette please refer to these web sites: The Cornell Univ. site which lists the U.S. Statutes - Title 36: Chap. 10 - Patriotic Customs is located at http://www4.law.cornell.edu/uscode/36/. Call a SAR Chapter, an American Legion post, or a Boy Scout troop when your flag is not longer fit for proud public display. The SAR ceremony is referred to on the URL http://www.sar.org/colors/retiflag.htm. The Boy Scout ceremony is found on the URL, http://www.usscouts.org/ceremony/flagret1.html. The American Legion's flag site is located at http://www.legion.org/flagtoc.htm. They also have a section on disposal of worn-out flags at http://www.legion.org/flagdisp.htm">www.legion.org/flagdisp.htm.

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This page is maintained by M.E. Smith - last updated August 3, 2004.