How the American Flag Should Be Displayed This Summer
1. The flag should fly freely. It should never touch the ground, the floor, the side of your house, plants, trees or other objects. Of course, you don’t have to destroy your flag if it should happen to come in contact with the ground. Just make sure you correct the situation and clean the flag immediately.
2. The flag is to be flown between sunrise and sunset and at night only with proper illumination.
3. When displaying the flag flat against a wall, vertically or horizontally, the stars are positioned at the top to the observer’s left. When displayed in a window, the stars are displayed to the left of the observer in the street. The flag is not to be used as a curtain.
4. Raising and lowering of the flag is an event. It requires ready arms and hands. Don’t do it while juggling a beer. On Memorial Day, the traditional start of summer, the flag is displayed at half-staff until noon only, then raised to the top of the pole. (By the way, half-staff protocol requires that you first hoist the flag to the top of the pole for an instant and then lower it to the half-staff position. To properly disengage from the half-staff position, first raise the flag to the top of the pole before removing it for the day.)
5. The American flag should be at the center and at the highest point of any grouping of state, municipality, societal or corporate flags. If multiple flags are flown from the same pole, the American flag must always occupy the top position. The American flag must be the first one raised and the last to be lowered. No other flag in the group should be larger than the American flag. The order of sequence for flags generally is: American, State, Territories (Washington, D.C., Puerto Rico, Guam, etc.), Military (in order of establishment: Army, Marine Corps, Navy, Air Force, Coast Guard) and Municipal, Societal or Corporate.
6. When displayed over a street, the flag should be hung vertically. On east/west streets, the stars go north. On north/south streets, the stars go east.
7. When the flag is on a standing pole on a stage, it is positioned to the right of the speaker or staging area. (It will appear to the left when viewed from the audience.) The flag should not cover a speaker’s podium or drape a platform.
8. When carried in a parade with other flags, the American flag may be centered in front or carried to the right of the other flags. It should never be dipped to any person or thing.
9. A flag receives a salute when it passes in a parade and when it is hoisted and lowered. People in uniform give an appropriate formal salute. Members of organizations in official formation salute upon command. Citizens salute by placing their right hand over their heart. Men wearing hats should remove them and hold them over the left shoulder, right hand over heart.
10. According to the Flag Code of the United States, “No part of the flag should ever be used as a costume or athletic uniform.” The language of the Code goes even further by stating, “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.” The Code warns against using the flag on anything intended to be discarded after temporary use, such as cushions, handkerchiefs, napkins or boxes.
11. When the flag is displayed on a car, it is to be on a pole fixed firmly to the chassis or clamped to the right fender.
When your flag has reached the end of its life and can no longer serve its symbolic purpose, it should be destroyed by burning in a dignified manner. Most American Legion posts regularly conduct proper flag burning ceremonies, often on Flag Day (June 14) or Independence Day (July 4). Many Cub Scout, Boy Scout and Girl Scout troops retire flags regularly as well. Contact your local American Legion Hall or scout troop to inquire about the availability of this service.
