American Flag Etiquette

I don't know about anyone else, but it's been a long time since I had to recall the proper etiquette involving our beloved flag..........I found this today and thought it would be helpful to others who are proudly showing their patriotism and love of country by flying our flag.

Here are the basics:

Why bother with flag etiquette when you're excited about flying the Stars and Stripes? I figure that, for more than two hundred years, our country's military, firemen, police, and other service personnel have practiced these measures faithfully, treating our flag with the highest esteem. This is one way we can meet the high standard they have set.


Ideally, an American flag on your house should hang from a staff that angles out from the front wall, a windowsill, or balcony. It's a good idea to screw a bracket made for holding a flagstaff to the trim. Fasten it securely so it won't become soiled or damaged. Do not allow the flag to touch the ground, floor, water, or anything else beneath it. It's also appropriate to hang the flag from a horizontal staff.


Whether the flag hangs from an angled or horizontal staff, be sure the union or canton (the rectangle with the stars) is at the peak. (Hanging the flag with the union down signals extreme distress.) When our President declares the flag to be flown at half-staff, it is acceptable to hang the flag from a horizontal staff with the union down, though your neighbors may not understand why you're doing this.


When the flag is displayed either horizontally or vertically against a wall, the union should be at the top and to your left. When displayed in a window, the flag should be hung so that the union is on the left when you see it from the street.


The American flag is meant to be a flag; don't use it for any other purpose. For example, don't use it as drapery, ceiling decoration, or as a bed spread. And never use it as a receptacle for carrying or holding anything.


Though it is customary to fly the flag from sunrise to sunset, the U.S. Code says that "when a patriotic effect is desired," you can display it around the clock. If you do, you should illuminate it with a light.


If you display the American flag next to other flags or pennants, place it on the right side of a single flag or at the center of a group and slightly higher than the other flags. If an American flag is on the same staff as other flags, it should always be at the top. The gist is that other flags should not be in positions of greater prominence or honor.


When displayed from a car, the flagstaff should be fixed or clamped firmly to the vehicle, ideally on the right side. The flag should not be draped over the hood, top, sides, or back. The same holds true for a flag displayed on a float in a parade. Don't carry the flag flat or horizontally. And, because it is not meant to be apparel, do not wear a United States flag. If you wear a lapel flag, pin it on the left side, near your heart.

Thank you mom2cats.

'eyes'

Thank you for posting this almost did so myself' It's every Americans' responsibility to know proper proceedure'

I believe they said we can fly it now at night without a floodlight.

That may be true now' We haven't been notified in our American Legion but will find out' Thanks,I'll do some checking''

I believe that the rule is still that it be lit at all times, but that many places have not done this and it is becoming "acceptable".

I have to admit I'm guilty of this myself.......we have a motion-sensor front porch light and nothing else that would keep light on the flag. Personally, I think it's more important right now that the flags be FLYING, and I feel that our fore-fathers will forgive us our wrongs in this case.

If I remember correctly the reason that it is to be lit up is to not ever allow "darkness" to fall upon the flag (our country)....but it has.......and we will light up this country and WORLD again, by flying our flags, standing united, and being the most wonderful nation on this planet!

Without a doubt,we WILL'

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 never touch anything beneath it, such as the ground, the floor, water or merchandise.

Also, when the flag is displayed on a motorcar, the staff shall be fixed firmly to the chassis or clamped to the right fender.

This is per the July 7, 1976 amendment to the Flag Code (Public Law 94-344, 94th Congress).

Just a short addition to what Mom2cats posted: When flags are flown at half-staff, it is acceptable on a house-mounted flag (which has too short a pole to do half-staff) to hang a black ribbon from the spearhead (not the flag itself), so the ribbon can flow freely over the flag.

Darius,

Where did you find that? I didn't know that you could do that. That's neat. We could do that here at our house, since it's mounted to the front of the house.

Thanks.

smilin32: I got that info. from the American Legion's link on their homepage about flying the flag at half-staff.

http://www.legion.org/communic/newsrel/flag9_11.htm

It pleases me to be able to do my part in showing respect for those who gave their lives. I understand Bush has said we can stop the half-staff flying of the flag this wee, I believe it is. (I'll have to ask my Source, LOL... no short term memory lately.)

President Bush stated that as of today (Sunday, September 23), we can resume flying the flag at full staff.

Smlin32:

I think what you wrote about the flag not touching the ground and being firmly attached to the right side of a vehicle was already covered in my initial posting:

"Do not allow the flag to touch the ground, floor, water, or anything else beneath it."

"When displayed from a car, the flagstaff should be fixed or clamped firmly to the vehicle, ideally on the right side."

I read in something that no other flag, be it another coutries, State flag, or local flag, should be flown under the American flag...on the same pole. Any one know about this? I see it done all the time. Jo

Yes, I also see that done roadrunner, and have seen it all my life. Still don't know if it is okay to do it tho. BUT NOW, I have another question. My DD's school was given funding to put up a flag pole and plan on flying not only a US flag but a World flag as well. (and also the school flag) Sounds like all these will be on the same pole. (I'm assuming the World flag is the one with the planet Earth on it.) My question is, I wonder if people place the World flag at the top, followed by the US Flag under it? What is etiquette for that...I remember a time when such a thing as a World Flag didn't exist, so have there been any new rules and regs made? All I've ever read is that no other flag should have dominance over the Stars and Stripes. Anyone know what they do at the United Nations bldg? (I imagine they have separate flag poles.)

This message was edited Sunday, Oct 7th 11:47 AM