How To Fly U.S. Flag - SuffolkJournal.com

How to Properly
Display the U.S. Flag
by Jane Lee Bock

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September 17, 2001

The patriotism so many of our citizens have been displaying over the past week through the use of the flag of the United States has been heartwarming to many. But in our zest to unite in strength and show the world our resolve, some are violating the rules associated with the proper display of the flag.

Improper display occurs often, in board meetings on occasion and in other gatherings by well-meaning but uninformed individuals.

The flag should be flown at half staff upon the death of a principal figure of the United States Government, a Governor of a State, Territory, or Possession. In the event of the death of other officials or foreign dignitary, the flag shall be flown at half-staff according to Presidential instructions.

The Governor of a State, Territory or Possession may order the National flag flown at half staff in that State upon the death of a past or present official of that government.

President George Bush has issued the following proclamation in regard to the flying of the flag, "As a mark of respect for those killed by the heinous acts of violence perpetrated by faceless cowards upon the people and the freedom of the United States on Tuesday, September 11, 2001, I hereby order, by the authority vested in me as President of the United States of America by the Constitution and the laws of the United States of America, that the flag of the United States shall be flown at half-staff at the White House and upon all public buildings and grounds, at all military posts and naval stations, and on all naval vessels of the Federal Government in the District of Columbia and throughout the United States and its Territories and possessions until sunset, Sunday, September 22, 2001. I also direct that the flag shall be flown at half-staff for the same length of time at all United States embassies, legations, consular offices, and other facilities abroad, including all military facilities and naval vessels and stations. "

To help our constituents ensure that they fly the flag properly and respectfully, we therefore offer the following information to anyone who wishes to use the symbol of the United States of America to demonstrate solidarity, resolve, and pride:

The correct terms for the parts that make up a flag or flagpole are as follows:

FLAGS:

The end closest to the pole is called the hoist end.
The end farthest from the pole is the fly end.
The blue area of the U.S. flag is called the field.

FLAGPOLES:

The ornament at the top is called the Finial.
The pulley housing is called a truck.
The rope is known as the halyard.
The item used to tie off the halyard is a cleat.

The flag should be displayed on all days, especially on legal holidays and other special occasions, on official buildings when in use, in or near polling places on election days, and in or near schools when in session.

A citizen may fly the flag at any time he wishes but it is customary to display the flag only from sunrise to sunset on buildings and on stationary flagstaffs in the open. The flag may be displayed at night on special occasions, preferably lighted.

How to fly the flag

The flag should be hoisted briskly and lowered ceremoniously, and should never be allowed to touch the ground or the floor. When hung over a sidewalk from a rope extending from a building to a pole, the union should be away from the building.

When hung over the center of a street it should have the union to the north in an east-west street and to the east in a north-south street. No other flag may be flown above or, if on the same level, to the right of the U.S. Flag.

When two flags are placed against a wall with crossed staffs, the U.S. Flag should be at right -- its own right, and its staff should be in front of the staff of the other flag; when a number of flags are grouped and displayed from staffs, it should be at the center and highest point of the group.

In an auditorium, the flag may be displayed flat, above and behind the speaker.

When displayed from a staff in a church or public auditorium, the flag should hold the position of superior prominence, in advance of the audience, and in the position of honor at the speaker's right as he faces the audience. Any other flag so displayed should be placed on the left of the speaker or to the right of the
audience.

When the flag is displayed horizontally or vertically against a wall, the stars should be uppermost and at the observer's left.

When to salute the flag

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 in a review,

* During the ceremony of hoisting or lowering,

* When the National Anthem is played,

* During the Pledge of Allegiance.

Those present in uniform should render the military salute. When not in uniform, men should remove the hat with the right hand holding it at the left shoulder, the hand being over the heart. Men without hats should salute in the same manner. Aliens should stand at attention. Women should salute placing the right hand over the heart.

Prohibited uses of the flag

The flag should not be dipped to any person or thing. It should never be displayed with the union down save as a distress signal. It should never be carried flat or horizontally, but always aloft and free.

It should not be displayed on a float, motor car or boat except from a staff.

It should never be used as a covering for a ceiling, nor have placed upon it any word, design, or drawing. It should never be used as a receptacle for carrying anything. It should not be used to cover a statue or a monument.

The flag should never be used for advertising purposes, nor be embroidered on such articles as cushions or handkerchiefs, printed or otherwise impressed on boxes or anything that is designed for temporary use and discard: or used as a costume or athletic uniform. Advertising signs should not be fastened to its staff or halyard.

The flag should never be used as drapery of any sort, never 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, should be used for covering a speaker's desk, draping the front of a platform and for decoration in general.

On a single pole:
To display the flag from a single flagpole, the U.S. flag should be at the peak, in a place of prominence above the flag of a State or municipality.

On multiple poles:
When flags are flown from adjacent staffs, the U.S. flag should be hoisted first and lowered last. The U.S. flag should fly on its own right, or to the viewer's left when facing the building. No flag shall be displayed above the U.S. flag, but should be at equal height. If multiple national flags are flown from adjacent staffs, they should be of equal size, and arranged alphabetically from the left of the U.S. flag.

Against a wall:
When displayed either horizontally or vertically against a wall, the union should be uppermost and to the flag's own right, (the viewers left).

The proper order of flags on dislplay:
The U.S. flag should be followed by any other National flag, then the State flag, Municipal flag, and corporate. If multiple National or State flags are flown, they should be arranged, viewers left to right, alphabetically. By international protocol, National flags are considered to be of higher status than state flags, State before County, County prior to local municipality, with corporate, organizational or personal flags at the end of the display.

Flying the flag at half mast:

To set the flag to half staff, the flag should first be raised to the peak of the pole, held there for an instant, then lowered to the half staff position. At the end of the day, the flag should again be raised to the peak before being lowered.

On Memorial Day the flag should be displayed at half staff as above, but only until Noon. At noon, the flag should be raised to the top of the pole.

This symbol of the United States of America is powerful. Let us make sure we neither diminish its meaning, nor our remembrances of those lost in these cowardly attacks on our beliefs of freedom and justice for all.