ETIQUETTE
FOR THE PROPER DISPLAY
OF THE
UNITED STATES FLAG
| GENERAL DISPLAY | CHURCHES, AUDITORIUMS | HALF-STAFF
| PARADES, CEREMONIES |
| VEHICLES | CORRIDORS,
LOBBIES | CASKETS | WEARING
APPAREL, DRAPERY | ADVERTISING |
FLAG HOLIDAYS
| New Year's Day............................. |
January 1 |
| Inauguration
Day............................ |
January 20 |
| Lincoln's
Birthday........................... |
February 12 |
| Washington's Birthday.................... |
third Monday in February |
| Easter Sunday |
|
| 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 |
| 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 |
| Thanksgiving Day........................... |
fourth Thursday in November |
| Christmas
Day............................... |
December 25 |
How to Fold the Flag
Fold the flag in half width-wise twice.
Fold up a triangle,
starting at the striped end ... and repeat ... until only the end
of the union is exposed. Then fold down the square into a
triangle and tuck inside the folds.
GENERAL
DISPLAY
It is the universal custom to display the
flag only from sunrise to sunset on buildings and on stationary flag staffs 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.
No other flag or pennant should be placed above or, ifon the same level, to the right of
the flag of the United States of America, except during church services conducted by naval
chaplains at sea...for personnel of the Navy...when the church pennant may be flown above
the flag.
1. 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.
2. 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 United States flag's right
3.The flag of United States of America, when it is diplayed with another flag against a
wall from crossed staffs, should be on the right, the flag's own right, and its staff
should be in front of the staff of the other flag.
4. 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 the States or localities or pennant of
societies are grouped and displayed from the staffs.
5. When flags of two or more nations are displayed, they are to be flown from seperate
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.
6. The flag should not be displayed on days the when the weather is inclement, except when
an all-weather flag is displayed.
7. When used on a speaker's platform, the flag, if displayed flat, should be displayed
above and behind the speaker.
CHURCHES, AUDITORIUMS
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 the right of the audience.
HALF-STAFF
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 displayed at half-staff
until noon only, then raised to the top of the staff. By order of the President, the flag
shall be flown at half-staff upon the death of principle figures of the United States
Government and the Governer of the State, territory or possesion, as a mark of respect to
their memory. In the event of the death of other officials and foreign dignitaries, the
flag is to be displayed at half-staff according to Presidential instructions or orders, or
in accordance with recognized customs or practices not consistent with the law.
In the event of death of a present or former official of the government of any State,
territory or possession of the United States, the Governor of that State, territory or
possession may proclaim that the National flag may be flown at half-staff.
CASKETS
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 be
allowed to touch the ground.
VEHICLES
The flag should not be draped over the hood, top, sides, or back of vehicle or of a
railroad train or boat. When the flag is displayed on a motorcar, the staff shall be fixed
firmly to the chassis or clamped to the right fender. |
PARADES, CEREMONIES
The flag, when carried in a procession or with another flag
or flags, should 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 should not be displayed on a float in a parade except from the staff (or as
against a wall or in a window).
The flag should form a distinctive feature of the unveiling a statue or monument. But it
should never be used as the covering for the statue or monument.
That no disrespect should be shown to the flag of the United States of America, the flag
should not be dipped to any person or thing. Regimental colors, State flags and
organization or institutional flags are to be dipped as a mark or honor.
The flag should never be carried flat or horizontal but always aloft and free.
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 would face the flag and
stand at attention with the right hand over the heart. Those present in uniform should
render the military salute. When not in uniform, men should remove their headdress with
their right hand and hold it at the left shoulder, the hand being over the heart. Aliens
should stand at attention. The salute to the flag in a moving column should be rendered at
the moment the flag passes.
CORRIDORS, LOBBIES
When the flag is suspended across a corridor or lobby in a building with only one main
enterance, it should be suspended vertically with the union of the flag to the observer's
left upon entering. If the building has more than one enterance, the flag should be
suspended vertically near the center of the corridor or lobby with the union to the North
when enterances are East or West - or to the East when enterances are to the North and
South. If there are enterances in more than two directions, the union should be to the
East.
WEARING APPAREL, DRAPERY
The flag should never be used as wearing apparel, bedding, or drapery. It should never be
festooned, drawn back, nor up, in folds, but allows allowed to fall free. Bunting of blue,
white, and red, always arranged with the blue above the white in the middle and the red
below should be used for covering a speaker's desk draping the front of the platform and
for decoration in general.
The flag should never touch anything beneath it, such as the ground, the floor, water or
merchandise.
The flag should never be fastened, displayed used or stored in such manner as to permit it
to be easily torn, soiled or damaged in any way.
The flag should never be used for covering for a ceiling.
The flag should never have placed upon it nor on any part of it, nor attached to it any
mark, insignia, letter, word, figure, design, picture or drawing of any nature.
The flag should never be used as a receptacle for receiving, holding, carrying or
delivering anything.
No part of the flag should ever be used as a costume or athletic uniform. However, a flag
patch may be affixed to the uniform of military personnel, fireman, policeman, and members
of patriotic organizations. The flag represents a living country and is itself considered
a living thing. Therefore, the lapel flag pin, being a replica, should be worn on the left
lapel near the heart.
ADVERTISING
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. Advertising signs should not be fastened to a staff or halyard from which
the flag is flown.
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