Flag Etiquette
THE AMERICAN FLAG TODAY
Care of Your Flag
The life of your flag depends on your care. Dirt can cut fabrics, dull colors, and cause wear. Most outdoor flags can be washed in mild detergent and thoroughly rinsed. Indoor and parade flags should be dry-cleaned.
Many dry cleaners offer free cleaning of U.S. flags during the months of June and July.
- Damaged flags can be repaired and utilized as long as the overall dimensions are not noticeably altered.
- The American Legion, the Girl Scouts, the Boy Scouts of America, all other major veterans’ organizations and some local governments conduct proper flag retirement ceremonies.
- Store your flags in a well ventilated area away from any harsh chemicals or cleaning compounds.
- If your flag gets wet, never store it until it is completely dry. Wet folds cause permanent creases. Dampness ruins fabric and causes mildew.
- Pole care is also related to flag care. Rust and scale cause permanent stains and some metallic oxides actually eat holes in fabric.
How to Dispose of Worn Flags
Here are two options for proper Flag Disposal:
Give the flag to a qualified organization:- Certain United States government organizations offer services to dispose of the flag with a proper ceremony at your request for no charge. The American Legion, Veterans of Foreign Wars, the Boy Scouts of America, the Girl Scouts of America and the US Military provide this service. If you don't have access to any of these organizations, you may find success by contacting your city hall or local government.
- The flag should be folded in its customary manner.
- It is important that the fire be fairly large and of sufficient intensity to ensure complete burning of the flag.
- Place the flag on the fire.
- The individual(s) can come to attention, salute the flag, recite the Pledge of Allegiance and have a brief period of silent reflection.
- After the flag is completely consumed, the fire should then be safely extinguished and the ashes buried.
- Please make sure you are conforming to local/state fire codes or ordinances.
- Note: Please contact your local Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW Post) if you'd like assistance or more information on proper flag disposal.
Sizes of Flags
The size of the flag is determined by the exposed height of the flagpole from which it is flying. The only consideration is for the flag to be in proper proportion to its pole. Flags which fly from angled poles on homes and those which are displayed on standing poles in offices and other indoor displays are usually either 3’ x 5’ or 4’ x 6’.
Color guards usually carry flags measuring 4’ x 6’. Other recommended sizes are shown in the following table:
Click here for Flag and Flag Pole Sizes Chart
Folding the Flag
- Two persons, facing each other, hold the flag waist high and horizontally between them.
- The lower striped section is folded, lengthwise, over the blue field. Hold bottom to top and edges together securely.
- Fold the flag again, lengthwise, folded edge to open edge.
- A triangular fold is started along the length of the flag, from the end to the heading by bringing the striped corner of the folded edge to meet the open edge.
- The outer point is turned inward parallel with the open edge, forming a second triangle.
- Repeat the triangular folding until the entire length of the flag is folded.
- When the flag is completely folded only the triangular blue field should be visible.
Flag Presentation
Presentation of the flag during a ceremony should be preceded by a brief talk emphasizing the importance of the occasion. Following the presentation all present should salute the flag, recite the pledge of allegiance, and sing the national anthem.
The Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag
The Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag, “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.”, 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 their 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.
When to Display the Flag
The flag should be displayed on all days when 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 Henry 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/she 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 the 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.
How to Display the Flag
When carried in 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 window sill, 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 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 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 vertical 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 it 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:
- 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.
- During the ceremony of hoisting or lowering the flag.
- When the National Anthem is played and the flag is displayed.
- 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.
Displaying American Flag Off-Staff
When the American 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 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 it should be suspended in the same way-that is, with the union to the left of the observer in the street.
Displaying American Flag with State, City or Society Flags
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.
Displaying American Flag with Foreign Flags
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. No other flag can be placed to the United States flag's right.
Displaying American Flag with Crossed Staffs
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.
Displaying American Flag in Grouping
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.
Displaying Nation Flags Together
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.
Displaying American Flag in a Church
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.
