Flag Etiquette
WHEN TO DISPLAY THE FLAG:
The flag should be displayed on all days when the weather permits, especially on legal
holidays or other special occasions. It is customary to display the flag from sunrise to
sunset on buildings or on stationary flagstaffs in the open. However, on special occasions
it may be displayed at night, preferably lighted. In several places the flag flies day and
night; among these are the Capitol in Washington, D.C., and the Fort McHenry National
Monument in Baltimore, which was the inspiration for "The Star Spangled Banner" by
Francis Scott Key.
The flag should be displayed...
on or near the main administration building of every public institution
in or near polling places on election days
in or near schools when they are in session
A citizen may fly the flag on any day he wishes.
HOW TO FLY THE FLAG:
The flag should be raised and lowered by hand. Never raise the flag while it is furled;
unfurl, then hoist quickly to the peak of the flagstaff. It should be lowered slowly and
ceremoniously. The flag should never be allowed to touch anything beneath it, such as the
ground or the floor.
The flying of the flag at half-staff is a sign of mourning. When flown at half-staff, the flag
should be first hoisted to the peak, then immediately lowered to the half-staff position. It
should be raised to the peak again for a moment before it is lowered for the day.
"Half-staff" is the point midway between top and bottom of the flagstaff. On Memorial
Day in May, the flag should fly at half-staff from sunrise until noon and at full-staff from
noon until sunset.
At sea services by Navy chaplains, the church pennant may be flown above the flag.
No other flag may be flown above the United States flag except at the United Nations
Headquarters. The UN flag may be placed above flags of all member nations. In the UN
enclave, national flags of all members are flown with equal prominence. When the flags of
two or more nations are displayed together they should be flown from separate staffs of
the same height, and the flags should be of approximately equal size. International usage
forbids the display of the flag of one nation above that of another in time of peace.
HOW TO DISPLAY THE FLAG:
When carried in a procession with another flag or flags, the Stars and Stripes should be at
the right-front of the column, or when there is a line of other flags, in front of the center of
that line. The flag should never be carried flat or horizontally, but always aloft and
floating free.
When a number of flags are grouped and displayed from staffs, the flag of the United
States should be in the center or at the highest point of the group. When displayed with
another flag from crossed staffs, the flag of the United States should be on the right (the
flag's own right), and its staff should be in front of the staff of the other flag.
If the flag is displayed from a staff projected from a windowsill, balcony or front of a
building, the union of the flag should go to the peak of the staff (unless the flag is to be
displayed at half-staff).
When the flag is displayed in any manner other than being flown from a staff, it should be
displayed flat, whether indoors or out. If displayed either horizontally or vertically from a
wall, the union should be uppermost and to the flag's own right; that is, to the observer's
left. When displayed in a window it should be suspended in the same way -- that is, with
the union to the left of the observer in the street.
When displayed over the middle of the street, the Stars and Stripes should be suspended
vertically with the union to the north on an east-west street and to the east on a
north-south street.
When the flag is suspended over a sidewalk from a rope extending from house to pole at
the edge of the sidewalk, the flag should be hoisted out from the building toward the pole
union first.
When used on a speaker's platform the flag may be displayed flat, above and behind the
speaker. If flown from a staff is should be on the speaker's right; all other flags on the
platform should be on his left.
When it is displayed on the pulpit or chancel in a church, the flag should be flown from a
staff placed on the clergyman's right as he faces the congregation. All other flags on the
pulpit or chancel should be on his left.
However, when the flag is displayed on the floor of a church or auditorium, on a level with
the audience, it is placed to the right of the audience.
When flags of states or cities, 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. When flown
from adjacent staffs, the Stars and Stripes should be raised first and lowered last.
When used to cover a casket, the flag should be placed so that the union is at the head
and over the left shoulder. The flag should not be lowered into the grave or allowed to
touch the ground. The casket should be carried foot-first from the hearse to the grave.
SALUTING THE FLAG:
In saluting the flag those present in uniform should render the military salute. When not in
uniform, men should remove the hat with the right hand and hold it at the left shoulder,
the hand being over the heart. Women, and men without hats, should place the right hand
over the heart. Aliens should stand at attention.
All persons present should face the flag, stand at attention and salute on the following
occasions:
1. When the flag is passing in a parade or review. The salute to the flag in the moving
column is rendered at the moment the flag passes.
2. During the ceremony of hoisting or lowering the flag.
3. When the National Anthem is played and the flag is displayed.
4. During the 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.
When the National Anthem is played and the flag is not displayed, all present should stand
and face toward the music. Those in uniform should salute at the first note of the anthem,
retaining this position until the last note. All others should stand at attention, men
removing their hats. When the flag is displayed, all present should face the flag and salute.
HOW TO DISPOSE OF WORN FLAGS:
Every precaution should be taken to prevent the flag from becoming soiled. When a flag is
in such a condition, through wear or damage, that it is no longer a fitting emblem for
display, it should be destroyed privately and in a dignified manner.
The flag should NEVER
- be tilted (dipped) even momentarily to any person or thing. Regimental colors, State
flags, organization or institutional flags may be tilted as the mark of honor.
- be displayed with the union down except as a signal of dire distress.
- be carried flat or horizontally, but always aloft and floating free.
- be displayed on a float, motor car, or boat except from a staff.
- be allowed to touch the ground or floor, or brush against objects.
- have objects placed on, over it, or be used as a covering for a ceiling.
- have any mark, insignia, letter, work, figure, picture or drawing of any nature place
upon or attached to it.
- be used as a receptacle for carrying anything, or be used to cover a statue or monument.
If used in connection with unveiling ceremonies, it should not serve as a covering of the
object being unveiled.
- be used for advertising purposes or have advertising signs fastened to its staff or
halyard.
- be embroidered on such articles as handkerchief or cushions, or be printed or otherwise
impressed on boxes.
- be used as a costume or athletic uniform or part of one.
- be used as drapery of any sort whatsoever, never festooned, drawn back or up in folds,
but always allowed to fall free. Bunting of blue, white and red -- always arranged with the
blue above, white in the middle, and red below -- should be used for such purposes of
decoration as covering a speaker's desk or draping the front of a platform.
The flag should be displayed on all days when the weather permits, especially on legal
holidays or other special occasions. It is customary to display the flag from sunrise to
sunset on buildings or on stationary flagstaffs in the open. However, on special occasions
it may be displayed at night, preferably lighted. In several places the flag flies day and
night; among these are the Capitol in Washington, D.C., and the Fort McHenry National
Monument in Baltimore, which was the inspiration for "The Star Spangled Banner" by
Francis Scott Key.
The flag should be displayed...
on or near the main administration building of every public institution
in or near polling places on election days
in or near schools when they are in session
A citizen may fly the flag on any day he wishes.
HOW TO FLY THE FLAG:
The flag should be raised and lowered by hand. Never raise the flag while it is furled;
unfurl, then hoist quickly to the peak of the flagstaff. It should be lowered slowly and
ceremoniously. The flag should never be allowed to touch anything beneath it, such as the
ground or the floor.
The flying of the flag at half-staff is a sign of mourning. When flown at half-staff, the flag
should be first hoisted to the peak, then immediately lowered to the half-staff position. It
should be raised to the peak again for a moment before it is lowered for the day.
"Half-staff" is the point midway between top and bottom of the flagstaff. On Memorial
Day in May, the flag should fly at half-staff from sunrise until noon and at full-staff from
noon until sunset.
At sea services by Navy chaplains, the church pennant may be flown above the flag.
No other flag may be flown above the United States flag except at the United Nations
Headquarters. The UN flag may be placed above flags of all member nations. In the UN
enclave, national flags of all members are flown with equal prominence. When the flags of
two or more nations are displayed together they should be flown from separate staffs of
the same height, and the flags should be of approximately equal size. International usage
forbids the display of the flag of one nation above that of another in time of peace.
HOW TO DISPLAY THE FLAG:
When carried in a procession with another flag or flags, the Stars and Stripes should be at
the right-front of the column, or when there is a line of other flags, in front of the center of
that line. The flag should never be carried flat or horizontally, but always aloft and
floating free.
When a number of flags are grouped and displayed from staffs, the flag of the United
States should be in the center or at the highest point of the group. When displayed with
another flag from crossed staffs, the flag of the United States should be on the right (the
flag's own right), and its staff should be in front of the staff of the other flag.
If the flag is displayed from a staff projected from a windowsill, balcony or front of a
building, the union of the flag should go to the peak of the staff (unless the flag is to be
displayed at half-staff).
When the flag is displayed in any manner other than being flown from a staff, it should be
displayed flat, whether indoors or out. If displayed either horizontally or vertically from a
wall, the union should be uppermost and to the flag's own right; that is, to the observer's
left. When displayed in a window it should be suspended in the same way -- that is, with
the union to the left of the observer in the street.
When displayed over the middle of the street, the Stars and Stripes should be suspended
vertically with the union to the north on an east-west street and to the east on a
north-south street.
When the flag is suspended over a sidewalk from a rope extending from house to pole at
the edge of the sidewalk, the flag should be hoisted out from the building toward the pole
union first.
When used on a speaker's platform the flag may be displayed flat, above and behind the
speaker. If flown from a staff is should be on the speaker's right; all other flags on the
platform should be on his left.
When it is displayed on the pulpit or chancel in a church, the flag should be flown from a
staff placed on the clergyman's right as he faces the congregation. All other flags on the
pulpit or chancel should be on his left.
However, when the flag is displayed on the floor of a church or auditorium, on a level with
the audience, it is placed to the right of the audience.
When flags of states or cities, 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. When flown
from adjacent staffs, the Stars and Stripes should be raised first and lowered last.
When used to cover a casket, the flag should be placed so that the union is at the head
and over the left shoulder. The flag should not be lowered into the grave or allowed to
touch the ground. The casket should be carried foot-first from the hearse to the grave.
SALUTING THE FLAG:
In saluting the flag those present in uniform should render the military salute. When not in
uniform, men should remove the hat with the right hand and hold it at the left shoulder,
the hand being over the heart. Women, and men without hats, should place the right hand
over the heart. Aliens should stand at attention.
All persons present should face the flag, stand at attention and salute on the following
occasions:
1. When the flag is passing in a parade or review. The salute to the flag in the moving
column is rendered at the moment the flag passes.
2. During the ceremony of hoisting or lowering the flag.
3. When the National Anthem is played and the flag is displayed.
4. During the 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.
When the National Anthem is played and the flag is not displayed, all present should stand
and face toward the music. Those in uniform should salute at the first note of the anthem,
retaining this position until the last note. All others should stand at attention, men
removing their hats. When the flag is displayed, all present should face the flag and salute.
HOW TO DISPOSE OF WORN FLAGS:
Every precaution should be taken to prevent the flag from becoming soiled. When a flag is
in such a condition, through wear or damage, that it is no longer a fitting emblem for
display, it should be destroyed privately and in a dignified manner.
The flag should NEVER
- be tilted (dipped) even momentarily to any person or thing. Regimental colors, State
flags, organization or institutional flags may be tilted as the mark of honor.
- be displayed with the union down except as a signal of dire distress.
- be carried flat or horizontally, but always aloft and floating free.
- be displayed on a float, motor car, or boat except from a staff.
- be allowed to touch the ground or floor, or brush against objects.
- have objects placed on, over it, or be used as a covering for a ceiling.
- have any mark, insignia, letter, work, figure, picture or drawing of any nature place
upon or attached to it.
- be used as a receptacle for carrying anything, or be used to cover a statue or monument.
If used in connection with unveiling ceremonies, it should not serve as a covering of the
object being unveiled.
- be used for advertising purposes or have advertising signs fastened to its staff or
halyard.
- be embroidered on such articles as handkerchief or cushions, or be printed or otherwise
impressed on boxes.
- be used as a costume or athletic uniform or part of one.
- be used as drapery of any sort whatsoever, never festooned, drawn back or up in folds,
but always allowed to fall free. Bunting of blue, white and red -- always arranged with the
blue above, white in the middle, and red below -- should be used for such purposes of
decoration as covering a speaker's desk or draping the front of a platform.
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