Displaying and Honoring the Flag.

[**jdazmum**]

Displaying and Honoring THE FLAG OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA:
Because the U.S. Flag is the symbol of our country, it should always be displayed in the most prominent, most honored position. No other flag should ever appear more important.

1. On the wall. When the flag is displayed on a wall, it should be displayed with the union uppermost and to the observer's left.
2. In Multi-National Flag displays. In the United States, the U.S. Flag is to be displayed first-to "it's own right"-followed by the flags of all other countries(at equal height and in alphabetical order) to the left(observer's right) of the U.S. flag.
3. Among Subordinate Flags. When the U.S. Flag is among a group of subordinate flags, the U.S. Flag should be at the center and the hightest point-the position of prominence.
4. Displayed from a staff. When displayed from a staff, the flag should hold the position of superior prominence, in advance of the audience, and to the speaker's right(facing the audience). If other flags are also dispalyed, they should be displayed to the speaker's left.
5. On a pole. When several flags are flown from the same pole, the U.S. Flag should always be at the top-except during church services by naval chaplains at sea when the church pennant may be flown above the U.S. Flag on the ship's mast.
6. On a lapel. When the flag is dispalyed as a lapel pin, it should be worn on the left lapel-near the heart. Among peers. When flags from two or more nations are dispalyed, the flag code forbids the display of any nation's flag in a position superioir to antoher in time of peace. Therefore, each flag should be of approximately equal size and flown at the same height.

Formal Occasions
Parades and Reviews. In parades or reviews, at the moment the flag passes, all non-uniformed persons should stand at attention facing the flag with their right hands over their hearts. Persons in uniform should face the flag and render the military salute.
Processions. In processions, the lfag should be tot the right of the marchers. When other flags are included, the U.S. flag should be centered in front of the others or carried to their right.
Memorials, Burials, and Funerals. During these services, the flag should lay over the casket with the blue field covering the head and left shoulder. The flag must not be lowered into the grave or allowed to touch the ground at any time.
Folding the Flag
To properly fold the U.S. Flag these steps:

1. Two people face each other, each holding one end of the flag. Stretch it horizontally at waist height and fold in half lengthwise.
2. Fold the flag in half lengthwise again; the union (blue field) should be on the outside with edges held together.
3. One person holds the flag by the union while the other starts at the opposite end by making a triangular fold.
4. Continue to fold in triangles until the flag resembles a cocked hat with only the blue field showing.

Flag Holidays
The flag should be displayed on all days, especially......
New Year's Day, January 1
Inauguration Day, January 20
Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, third Monday in January
Lincoln's Birthday, Feb 12
Washington's Birthday, third Monday in Feb
Easter Sunday
Mother's Day, second Sunday in May
Peace Officer's Day Memorial Day, May 15(half staff all day)
Armed Forces Day, third Saturday in May
Memorial Day, (half staff until noon) last Monday in May
Flag Day, June 14
Army Day, June 14
Father's Day, third Sunday in June
Independence Day, July 4
Korean War Veteran's Day, July 27(half staff all day)
Labor Day, first Monday in September
Patriot Day, September 11(half staff all day)
Constitution Day, Sept 17
Gold Star Mother's Day, lst Sunday in Sept
Navy Day, October 27
Election Day, first Tuesday in Nov
Marine Corps Birthday, Nov 10
Veteran's Day, Nov 11
Thanksgiving Day
Pearl Harbor Rememberance Day, Dec 7(half staff all day)
Christmas Day
Care and Respect
The U.S. Flag should always be treated with the utmost care and respect. Remember, the flag represents a living country and , as such, it considered a living thing.

1. Always display the flag with the blue union fielf up-never display the flag upside down, except as a distress signal.
2. Always hold the flag carefully-never let it touch anything beneath it; the ground, the floor, water or merchandise.
3. Always keep the flag aloft and free-never carry it flat or horizontal.
4. Always keep the flag clean and safe-never let it become torn, soiled or damaged.
5. Always dispose of a worn flag properly, preferrably by burning it.
6. Always treat the flag with respect. Never use it for advertising purposes. Never embroider it on household items or pieces of clothing. Never use it as part of a custome or athletic uniform. However, it is proper to attach a flag patch to the uniform of military personnel, firefighters, police officers andmembers of other patriotic organizations-provided the patch is properly affixed.

Flying at Half-Staff
Flying the U.S.Flag at half-staff, or on a ship at half-mast, is an honored tradition which signifies that the nation is in mourning due to the death of a prominent citizen. In 1976, when the flag code was amended, changes were incorporated concerning whose death meets the criteria befitting a half-staff display. These changes make it difficult to efine the half-staff criteria clearly and concisely. However, generally speaking, the flag code dictates that the U.S. Flag be flwon at half-staff upon the death of principal figues of the U.S. government and the governor or a state, territory, or posession, as a mark of respect to their memory. When desiring to honor someone who has died but for whom a half-staff display is not appropriate, National Flag Foundation recommends adhering to the flag code by lowering private flags to half-staff. This substitution of flags preserves the integrity of the "nation in mourning" distinction while allowing appropriate mourning for the deceased. To position the flag at half-staff, first hoist the flag to the peak of the staff for an instant before lowering it to the half-staff position-roughly halfway between the top and bottom of the staff. Before lowering it for the day, raise the flag again to the peak for an instant.
National Anthem
When the national anthem is played or sung, citizens should stand and face the flag to show their respect for the United States. A non-uniformed person wearing a hat must remove it with the right hand and hold it against the left shoulder, right hand resting over the heart. Those in uniform must stand at attention and salute the flag.


Hope this was informative for everyone. So you go to a powwow or formal gatherings, you all know what to do.

[andre]

An excellent description of the flag etiquette. That's pretty much how I was taught by my grandpa and when I was a scout. This does remind me of a humorous anecdote:
My friend's sergeant called his house, and my friend's mom told him that he was out back burning flags! He didn't respond until she clarified that he was retiring old and abused American flags that he had collected from numerous towns in the area. My friend said jokes were thrown his way all the time at drill!

[SingingDeer]

It's always good to review the flag code once in a while....

I don't know how many times I've tried to express the correct display of the flag to people and they turn around and do it wrong anyway....

[SingingDeer]

Displaying the flag indoors

one that is so often misinterpreted is display indoors on and off speaking platforms...

the rule of thumb to follow is "Always at it's own right"
if one the platform - to the speaker's right
if off the platform - to the audience's right

(if you disagree with this - look it up yourself)

[SingingDeer]

BTW - the flag is always displayed to the right of the MC at pow wows.... generally because it is usually on the same level as the mc

[SingingDeer]

Half Mast ?

there seems to have been a re-interpretation as to what "half-mast" really is,
but the fact that it is observed is important....

when I first learned about half-mast - it was that the flag was to be raised fully to the top of the pole, then lowered slowly to a position approximately equal in distance to the vertical measurement of the flag being flown.... as if an invisible flag of the same size were flying above it... (original flag code developed about 100 years ago)

today it seems that the flag code reflect something else - half the height of the pole itself...

funny thing - I don't recall any changes to the flag code - anyone know when this happened???

[andre]

I may have some light on the half mast topic (mostly opinion I guess):
My grandfather was a signalman in the Navy and original flag code was developed for use in British/French/Spanish naval fleets. As a result the flags needed to be high enough and away from the rigging so that other ships could see them. This is probably where the original flag code came from. As for changing, I think once "half-mast" became ceremonial in nature (mourning, etc), common people did not take notice unless it was far down the pole.

?????

[SingingDeer]

I haven't actually seen any changes to the flag code... just in recent publications about the flag.... so I'm curious <i>if</i> the code really has been modified.

[**jdazmum**]

I got all the information from the National Flag Foundation. You might want to google them and find out more information, but your right, no matter how much you teach someone the proper way to display the flag it's always done wrong. I also read that to respect the flag, never display it on a custome, so I'm thinking how about regalia? That's a sensitive issue to address. But I don't have any problem with people wearing it on their regalia, as long as it's not upside down or trampled on.

[SingingDeer]

According to the flag code ... (176 d)
"The flag should never be used as wearing apparel, bedding, or drapery. It shuld never be festooned, drawn back, nor up, in folds, but always allowed to fall free..."

... so it is not appropriate to sew it into or on regalia (flat)...

it may be interpreted that certain elements of the flag may be used... like a few red/white stripes or a few white stars on a blue background do not necessarily mean that it IS the flag as long as it is not an exact representation....

here's a loophole.... (176 j)
"No part of the flag should ever be affixed to the uniform or athletic uniform. However a flag patch may be affixed to the uniform of military personnel, firmen, policemen, 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."

This may be interpreted to allow pins and patches that are worn by veterans to be acceptable... also those who attach miniature flags on their own poles to bustles or other items (so that the flag is only attached to the pole and allowed to "fall free") have chosen an acceptable form of display in their uniform.

[**jdazmum**]

That's right, I remember reading that. You are right.

This weekend I attended gourd dancing and seen a veteran dancing with a flag draped over his left arm. I did have a problem with that, but I'm not one to go up to anyone and make corrections especially because he was a vietnam veteran.

[SingingDeer]

my bad...

I may have some light on the half mast topic (mostly opinion I guess):
My grandfather was a signalman in the Navy and original flag code was developed for use in British/French/Spanish naval fleets. As a result the flags needed to be high enough and away from the rigging so that other ships could see them. This is probably where the original flag code came from. As for changing, I think once "half-mast" became ceremonial in nature (mourning, etc), common people did not take notice unless it was far down the pole.

?????

I found a couple of my flag books on the american flag.... and I figured out why I "saw" it wrong....

"Half-mast" is a naval term... as a vexillologist - that's the term I'm most familiar with

"Half-staff" is defined in the flag code (175 m1)
"... means the position of the flag when it is one-half the distance between the top and bottom of the staff."