Flag
Rules and Regulations
How to Fold the Flag
Fold the flag in half width-wise twice. Fold up a triangle, starting
at the striped end ... and repeat ... until only the end of the
union is exposed. Then fold down the square into a triangle and
tuck inside the folds.
1.
When the flag is 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.
2.
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 flag's own right [that means the viewer's left --Webmaster],
and its staff should be in front of the staff of the other flag.
3. The
flag, when flown at half-staff, should be first hoisted to the
peak for an instant and then lowered to the half-staff position.
The flag should be again raised to the peak before it is lowered
for the day. By "half-staff" is meant lowering the
flag to one-half the distance between the top and bottom of the
staff. Crepe streamers may be affixed to spear heads or flagstaffs
in a parade only by order of the President of the United States.
4.
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 right of the flag of the
United States.
5.
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.
6.
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.
7.
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.
8.
When the flag is displayed in a manner other than by being flown
from a staff, it should be displayed flat, whether indoors or out.
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 it should
be displayed in the same way, that is with the union or blue field
to the left of the observer in the street. When festoons, rosettes
or drapings are desired, bunting of blue, white and red should be
used, but never the flag.
9.
That the flag, when carried in a procession 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.
10.
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.
11.
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 of approximately equal size. International usage forbids the
display of the flag of one nation above that of another nation in
time of peace.
12.
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 to the right of the audience. By Executive Order, the flag flies 24 hours a day at the following
locations:
- The Betsy Ross House, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
- The White House, Washington, DC
- US Capitol, Washington, DC
- Washington Monument, DC
- Iwo Jima Memorial to US Marines, Arlington,
Virginia
- Battleground in Lexington, MA
- Winter encampment cabins, Valley Forge,
Pennsylvania
- Fort McHenry, Baltimore, Maryland
- The Star-Spangled Banner Flag House, Baltimore, Maryland (site
where the famed flag over Fort McHenry was sewn)
- Jenny Wade House in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania (Jenny Wade was
the only civilian killed at the battle of Gettysburg)
- U.S.S. Arizona Memorial, Pearl Harbor, Hawaii
- All custom points and points of entry into the United States
The following codification of existing rules
and customs pertaining to the display and use of the flag of the
United States of America be, and it is hereby, established for the
use of such civilians or civilian groups or organizations as may
not be required to conform with regulations promulgated by one or
more executive departments of the Government of the United States.
The flag of the United States for the purpose of this chapter shall
be defined according to title 4, United States Code, Chapter 1,
Section 1 and Section 2 and Executive Order 10834 issued pursuant
thereto.
Sec. 2.
- 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 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 on all days,
especially on
- New Year's Day, January 1
- Inauguration Day, January 20
- Lincoln's Birthday, February 12
- Washington's Birthday, third Monday
in February
- Easter Sunday (variable)
- Mother's Day, second Sunday in May
- Armed Forces Day, third Saturday in
May
- Memorial Day (half-staff until noon),
the last Monday in May
- Flag Day, June 14
- Independence Day, July 4
- Labor Day, first Monday in September
- Constitution Day, September 17
- Columbus Day, second Monday in October
- Navy Day, October 27
- Veterans Day, November 11
- Thanksgiving Day, fourth Thursday
in November
- Christmas Day, December 25
- and such other days as may be proclaimed
by the President of the United States
- the birthdays of States (date of admission)
- and on State holidays.
- The flag should be displayed daily on
or near the main administration building of every public institution.
- The flag should be displayed in or near
every polling place on election days.
- The flag should be displayed during school
days in or near every schoolhouse.
Sec. 3.
That the flag, when carried in a procession 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 provided in subsection
(i).
- The flag should not be draped over the
hood, top, sides, or back of a vehicle or of a railroad train
or a boat. When the flag is displayed on a motorcar, the staff
shall be fixed firmly to the chassis or clamped to the right fender.
- 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, when the church pennant may be flown
above the flag during church services for the personnel of the
Navy.
- 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 flag's own right, and its
staff should be in front of the staff 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 of 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 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.
- When used on a speaker's platform, the
flag, if 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 to the right
of the audience.
- 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.
- The flag, when flown at half-staff, should
be first hoisted to the peak for an instant and then 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. 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 of that State, territory, or possession
may proclaim that the National flag shall be flown at half-staff.
The flag shall be flown at half-staff thirty days from the death
of the President or a former President; ten days from the day
of death of the Vice President, the Chief Justice or a retired
Chief Justice of the United States, or the Speaker of the House
of Representatives; from the day of death until interment of
an Associate Justice of the Supreme Court, a Secretary of an
executive or military department, a former Vice President, or
the Governor of a State, territory, or possession; and on the
day of death and the following day for a Member of Congress.
As used in this subsection (1) the term "half-staff"
means the position of the flag when it is one half the distance
between the top and bottom of the staff; (2) the term "executive
or military department" means any agency listed under sections
101 and 102 of title 5, United States Code; and (3) the term "Member
of Congress" means a Senator, a Representative, a Delegate,
or the Resident Commissioner from Puerto Rico.
- 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.
- 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 and west or to the east when entrances are to
the north and south. If there are entrances in more than two directions,
the union should be to the east.
Sec. 4.
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 displayed with
the union down, except as a signal 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 carried flat
or horizontally, but always aloft and free.
- 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 the platform, and for decoration
in general.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
Sec. 5.
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 in a moving column should be rendered at
the moment the flag passes.
Sec. 6.
During 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.
Sec. 7.
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.
Sec. 8.
Any rule or custom pertaining to the display of the flag of the
United States of America, set forth herein, may be altered, modified,
or repealed, or additional rules with respect thereto may be prescribed,
by the Commander in Chief of the Armed Forces of the United States,
whenever he deems it to be appropriate or desirable; and any such
alteration or additional rule shall be set forth in a proclamation.
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, and other national
flags in positions of equal prominence or honor, with that of the
flag of the United States at the headquarters of the United Nations.
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