What better day to review the official U.S. code of etiquette for displaying the American flag than the 4th of July? Grab a sparkler, class is in session.
Did you know that there is an official U.S. Flag Code? Really? You did? Oh, me too. I totally knew that...er, sure I did. Anyway! Yes, the Federal Flag Code does exist and can be found under United States Code Title 4 Chapter 1.
The code used today was approved in 1942 by President Roosevelt as a set of guidelines regarding proper etiquette for civilians to follow when displaying the American flag. However, the very first Flag Act was passed by the Continental Congress back in 1777 to establish that the flag would have "thirteen stripes, alternate red and white; that the union be thirteen stars, white in a blue field, representing a new Constellation."
According to the U.S. Senate, the etiquette prescribed in the code is not mandatory in the legal sense but is encouraged so that proper respect is shown to the flag. The flag code is rather intensive, so here are some highlights (pretty interesting!):
Appearance:
• A U.S. flag must have 13 horizontal stripes, alternating red and white, and 50 stars representing the 50 states in the union.
Display:
• When raising the flag, it should be "raised briskly and lowered slowly and ceremoniously". It should be saluted as it is raised and lowered.
• The flag should be displayed between sunrise and sunset; if it is displayed at night it should be illuminated.
• When displaying the flag from a window, balcony, or a building, the union should be positioned at the top of the flag staff unless the flag is at half-staff.
• When displaying the flag over a street, it should be hung vertically, with the union facing north or east.
• The flag should not be displayed outdoors when there is rain or snow, unless an all-weather flag is used.
• The flag should always be placed to its own right, with any other flags to the left.
Unacceptable Use of the Flag:
• The flag should never be dipped lower than a person and should only be placed upside down to signal distress.
• The flag should never be displayed, used, or stored in a way that would permit it to be easily damaged.
• The flag should never be used as drapery or for decorative purposes; red, white, and blue bunting can be used instead.
• The flag should not be embroidered or printed on any sort of temporary décor or home good (e.g., handkerchief, boxes, napkins), or anything that will be discarded after temporary usage.
• The flag should never have any additional markings, symbols, or drawings of any kind attached to it.
• The flag should never be used as a receptacle for receiving, holding, or carrying anything.
• The flag should never be used for advertising purposes.
Disposal:
• Finally, when the U.S. flag is in a condition that it is no longer able to be displayed, it should disposed of in a respectful way, preferably by burning.
Phew! And those are only some of the standards. There are even more codes of etiquette, which you can read all about at The U.S. Senate's reference page on the Federal Flag Code.
Did you get all that? Good. There will be a quiz on Friday. I kid. Happy 4th of July!
(Image: Julia Brenner)
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I really appreciate the sense of étiquette your Country has set for respecting this wonderful flag. I'm French and I got a particular relationship with the USA, working for TWDC, mainly traveling to the US (for tourism) but of course, not forgotting other great places to visit in the rest of the world, embrassing some of my favorite brands (RL, A&F, Apple Inc, etc.) for the consumerism side of me. I've done roadtrips in Florida, California, Nevada, Arizona and other visits and wish to discover more and more here and there...
After reading that article, I'm a bit confused as I inherited a US flag that was discarded from an Ohio Town Hall. This was a great gift from an old friend and as I recently moved into my new apartment, I was planning to display this stitched US flag totaly unfold and framed. I got that image of a huge unfold and framed US flag displayed in a staircase of the Ralph Lauren flagship store (Boulevard Saint Germain, Paris, France) the way I wanted to do at home....
Do you think this will be a disgrace and against the etiquette to do such a thing?
I would sincerely appreciate any critic.... thks anyone willing to advise me.
Sorry, I forgot: Happy 4th of July to you all!
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@cyrille from Paris -- I'm so pleased that someone cares to ask. This code gets violated all the time (especially flags printed on disposable decor, and underwear...that bothers me), but the hope is that the general gist of it will be respected. Display a flag without irony or disrespect in your home and you are doing okay.
The question of destroying or displaying a damaged or weathered flag came up, nationally, with the tattered and scorched flag that was found in the wreckage of the twin towers after 9/11. Technically, it should have been burned, but it was patched and added to by people all over the country, and is to become part of an exhibit in NY.
Happy 4th!
Thank you for your comment. FYI, I asked AT Moderation to edit or delete my second post with my greetings and the ASCII flag drawing cause I've mistaken. The flag position is lowered, not raised. It was perfect before posting my message but I just was lazy to preview it and here is the result... Sorry for this.
I have seen so many variations of the flag, used as undies, disposable napkins or.... door mats (how come one could brush or wipe their shoes on her/his country's flag????).
If you need to dispose of a flag, contact your local American Legion, Veterans of Foreign War, or Boy Scout organization. Most offer flag disposal services on a regular basis, and if not they can usually point you in the right direction.
Another flag "rule" that gets violated a lot - Flags should only fly at half staff if the governor of your state has declared so for the entire state, or the president has declared it for the entire country. When flying a flag at half staff, raise it fully, then lower half way. The particular rule is on my mind b/c my state (NC) is flying flags at half staff today in memory of our National Guard airmen who died in Colorado over the weekend.
You missed the mistake that appears most often in photos on AT: "When the flag is displayed against a wall vertically or horizontally, its union (stars) should be at the top, to the flag's own right, and to the observer's left."
In particular, the flag is often hung backwards when it is hung vertically.
Is it a tradition that every US home has a flag (whether it is displayed on a balcony, frontyard, backyard, folded and stored in a drawer, etc.)?
Not cyrille from Paris it is not a tradition for every US home to have a flag.
@HOUSE VOYEUR: Ok Thanks for the precision!
Cyrille, I don't know if it still happens but when naturalized citizens are sworn in, they are presented with a brand new US flag. My parents flew theirs with pride on holidays like Memorial Day and of course, 4th of July.
If one has a flag that is in need of disposal I would recommend giving it to one of the native peoples of what is now known as the U.S.A. They will know exactly how it needs to be disposed of.
I hate the misuse of flags in the US which is almost always from ignorance. Drives me crazy. If you want patriotic displays do it the correct way with bunting or streamers.
"If one has a flag that is in need of disposal I would recommend giving it to one of the native peoples of what is now known as the U.S.A. They will know exactly how it needs to be disposed of."
I'm an American of American Indian heritage and I find your comment disgusting. Contrary to what you might think most of us are proud Americans.
Also, anyone born in this great country is a "native." I suggest you look up the meaning of the word.
Finally, the vast majority of what was to become America was actually uninhabited at the time of colonization so that common anti-American insult holds no water.
A damaged flag is destroyed by burning it privately, not as part of a public spectacle. Public burning is a different matter - though protected by the 1st Amendment as political speech.
'I'm an American of American Indian heritage and I find your comment disgusting. Contrary to what you might think most of us are proud Americans".... I doubt your state of authority on what Native peoples think, in fact I know your wrong. If you were a real native American and new the prophecies of the elders you would see how absurd and wrong your statement is. In fact, I suspect you might have a tiny spec of native blood in you which explains your misleading statement and ability to ignore history, if you ever learned it in the first place.
In fact JDOEY I can promise you that it is you that is disgusting to the real "native peoples" of this continent. Disgusting for disrespecting all our ancestors who fell to disease, displacement and genocide under the authority of this flag. Do not shame and disrespect us by acting like you are a part of us.