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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 hours of darkness.
The flag should be hoisted briskly and lowered ceremoniously.
The flag should not be displayed on days when the weather is
inclement, except when an all-weather flag is displayed.
The flag should be displayed daily, on or near the main
administration building of every public institution...in or near every polling
place on election days...during school days in or near every schoolhouse.
No other flag or pennant should be placed above or, if on 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.
No person shall display the flag of the United Nations or any other
national or international flag equal, above, or in a position of superior
prominence or honor to, or in place of, the flag of the United States at any
place within the United States or any Territory or possession thereof: Provided,
that nothing in this section shall make unlawful the continuance of the
practice heretofore followed of displaying the flag of the United Nations in a
position of superior prominence or honor, with that of the flag of the United
States at the headquarters of the United Nations.
The Flag of the United States of America, when it is displayed with
another flag against a wall from crossed staffs, should be on the right, the
flags own right, and its staff should be in front of the other flag.
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 States or
localities or pennants of societies are grouped and displayed from staffs.
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. 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.
When flags of two or more nations are displayed, they are to be
flown from separate staffs of the same height. The flags should be
approximately equal size. International usage forbids the display of the
flag of one nation above that of another nation in time of peace.
When the flag of the United States is displayed from a staff
projecting horizontally or at an angle from the window sill, balcony, or front
of a building, the union of the flag should be placed at the peak of the staff
unless the flag is at half-staff. When the flag is suspended over a
sidewalk from a rope extending from a house to a pole at the edge of the
sidewalk, the flag should be hoisted out, union first, from the building.
When displayed either horizontally or vertically against 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, the flag should be displayed
in the same way, with the union or blue field to the left of the observer in
the street.
When the flag is to be displayed over the middle of the street, it
should be suspended vertically with the union to the North in an East and West
street or to the East in a North and South street.
The flag should never be displayed with the union down, except as a
sign of dire distress in instances of extreme danger to life or property.
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 a manner as to permit it to be easily torn, soiled, or damaged in any way.
The flag should never be used as a 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.
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| Parades & Ceremonies |
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The flag, when carried in a procession or with another flag or
flags, should be 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
a staff (or as against a wall or in a window).
The flag should form a distinctive feature of the ceremony of
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 of honor.
The flag should never be carried flat or horizontally, 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 should 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
should be rendered at the moment the flag passes.
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| Folding the Flag |
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To fold the flag ceremoniously, first fold it lengthwise, bringing
the striped half up over the blue field. Then repeat, with the blue field
on the outside. Beginning at the lower right, make a series of triangular
folds until the flag resembles a cocked hat with only the blue field visible.
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| Vehicles |
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The flag should not be draped over the hood, top, sides, or back of
a 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.
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| Corridors & Lobbies |
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When the flag is suspended across a corridor or lobby in a building with only
one main entrance, 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
main entrance, the flag should be suspended vertically near the center of the
corridor or lobby with the union to the North when entrances are to the East or
West-or to the East when entrances are to the North or South. If there
are entrances in more than two directions, the union should be to the East.
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| Churches & Auditoriums |
| When used on a speaker's platform, the flag, is displayed
flat, should be displayed above and behind the speaker. 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. |
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| 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 allowed to touch the ground. |
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| National Anthem |
| During the rendition of the national anthem when the flag is
displayed, all present except those in uniform should stand at attention facing
the flag with the right hand over the heart. Men not in uniform should
remove their headdress with their right hand and hold it at the left shoulder,
the hand being over the heart. Persons in uniform should render the
military salute at the first note of the anthem and retain this position until
the last note. When the flag is not displayed, those present should face
toward the music and act in the same manner they would if the flag were
displayed there. |
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| Pledge of Allegiance |
| The Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag should be rendered by
standing at attention facing the flag with the right hand over the heart.
When not in uniform men should remove their headdress with the right hand
and hold it at the left shoulder, the hand being over the heart. Persons
in uniform should remain silent, face the flag, and render the military salute. |
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| Half-Staff |
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The flag, when flown at half-staff, should be first hoisted to the
peak for an instant and than 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 be displayed at half-staff until noon only, then
raised to the top of the staff. On the following days, the flag is to be
flown at half-mast for the entire day:
| December 7 |
- Pearl Harbor Day |
| May 15 |
- Peace Officers Memorial Day |
| July 27 |
- Korean War Veterans Day |
| Sept. 11 |
- Patriot's Day |
By order of the President, the flag shall be flown at half-staff
upon the death of principal figures of the United States Government and the
Governor of a State, territory or possession, as a mark of respect to their
memory. In the event of the death of other officials or 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 inconsistent with law.
In the event of the death of a present or former official of the
government of any State, territory, or possession of the United States, the
Governor may proclaim that the National flag be flown at half-staff.
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| Apparel & Drapery
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The flag should never be used as wearing apparel, bedding, or
drapery. It should never be festooned, drawn back, nor up, in folds, but
always 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 a platform,
and for decoration in general.
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, firemen, 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.
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| 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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| Disposal |
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The flag, when it is in such condition that it is no longer a
fitting emblem for display, should be destroyed in a dignified way, preferably
by burning.
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