How to Display the United States Flag
Apr 14, 2005 19:36:02 GMT -6
Post by Moderator on Apr 14, 2005 19:36:02 GMT -6
POSITION AND DISPLAY OF THE UNITED STATES FLAG
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.
No person shall display the flag of any other nation above or in a position of superior prominence or honor to the flag of the United States, provided that nothing shall make unlawful the continuance of the practice 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.
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.
No other flag or pennant should be placed above or, if on the same level, to the right of the flag except during church services conducted by United States Navy chaplains at sea, when the church pennant may be flown above the flag during church services for the personnel of the United States Navy.
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 flag of the United States should always be at the peak.
The flag 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 are flown from adjacent staffs, the flag of the United States should be hoisted first and lowered last.
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 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 in a window, the flag should be displayed with the union or blue field to the left of the observer in the street.
When the flag 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 across a corridor or lobby in a building with 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.
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 the flag is displayed with another flag against a wall using crossed staffs, the United States flag should be on its own right, and its staff should be in front of the staff of the other flag.
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 dipped to any person or thing. State flags, regimental colors, and organization or institutional flags are to be dipped as a mark of honor.
If an honor guard carries the flag for a ceremony in the area of a flag pole, the honor guard should be positioned between the flag pole and the audience.
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 to the speaker's right as he faces the audience.
When used on a speaker's platform, the flag, if displayed flat, should be displayed above and behind the speaker. Any other flag so displayed should be placed on the left of the speaker or to the right of the audience.
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 in front of the platform, and for a decoration in general.
To prevent the official party from having to put their back-sides to the audience when the flag is on the stage behind them, pre-post the Colors on the stage, or, have the honor guard post the Colors on the stage and position the official party in the front row of the audience during the National Anthem.
It is not mandatory to retire the Colors just because the Colors have been posted. It is not customary to retire the Colors if they were not formally posted.
Positioning of flags is often arbitrary and based primarily on the best location for the event. This could be directly behind the speaker, to the observer's left of the speaker, or centered together on the stage.
When positioning flags, consider the traffic flow of those participating in the ceremony, obstruction of audiovisual equipment, getting flags into the background for photographs, and practicality.
The flag should form a distinctive feature of the ceremony of unveiling a statute or monument, but it should never be used as the covering for the statute or monument.
There are no laws or regulations restricting the use of a finial on a flag staff. The eagle finial is used by the President, the Vice-President, many federal agencies, and also by many civilian organizations and private citizens. The type of finial used, if any, is a matter of preference of the individual or organization.
The placing of a fringe on the flag is optional. Fringe should be used on indoor flags only. Fringe is considered to be an "honorable enrichment only" and is not regarded as an integral part of the flag.
No part of the flag should ever be used as wearing apparel, a costume, or athletic uniform, however, a flag patch may be affixed to the uniform of military personnel, policemen, firemen, and members of patriotic organizations.
The flag patch on the left sleeve of a military uniform should have the blue field to the viewer's left. A flag patch on the right sleeve should be displayed with the blue field to the viewer's right so that the flag is facing forward and streams to the back as the person moves forward.
A flag pin should be worn on the left lapel near the heart.
When the flag is displayed on a motorcar, the staff should be fixed firmly to the chassis or clamped to the right fender. Window-mount flags should be positioned on the right side (passenger side) of the vehicle.
The flag should not be draped over the hood, top, sides, or back of a vehicle or of a railroad train or a boat.
A flag decal or a flag magnet displayed on either side of a vehicle should have the blue field towards the front of the vehicle so that the flag appears to be moving forward as the vehicle moves forward.
The flag should not be displayed on a float in a parade except from a staff.
The flag should never be used as a covering for a ceiling.
The flag should never be used as bedding or drapery. It should never be festooned, drawn back or drawn up, bunched in folds, but always allowed to fall free.
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. There is a federal criminal prohibition on the use of the flag for advertising purposes in the District of Columbia.
Advertising signs should not be fastened to a staff or halyard from which the flag is flown.
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 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.
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.
A torn flag may be mended, but a worn or tattered flag should be destroyed when it is no longer fit for display. It should be destroyed in a dignified way, preferably by burning.
When the flag is used to cover a casket, it 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.
Any rule or custom pertaining to the display of the flag of the United States of America may be altered, modified, repealed, or additional rules may be prescribed, by the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of the United States. Any such alteration or additional rule shall be set forth in a proclamation.
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This information is copied from Pages 12 through 15 of the United States Flag Manual, a publication distributed by the Military Salute Project. Click the following link to view or download the complete manual ...
militarysalute.proboards.com/thread/737/united-states-flag-manual
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.
No person shall display the flag of any other nation above or in a position of superior prominence or honor to the flag of the United States, provided that nothing shall make unlawful the continuance of the practice 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.
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.
No other flag or pennant should be placed above or, if on the same level, to the right of the flag except during church services conducted by United States Navy chaplains at sea, when the church pennant may be flown above the flag during church services for the personnel of the United States Navy.
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 flag of the United States should always be at the peak.
The flag 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 are flown from adjacent staffs, the flag of the United States should be hoisted first and lowered last.
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 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 in a window, the flag should be displayed with the union or blue field to the left of the observer in the street.
When the flag 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 across a corridor or lobby in a building with 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.
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 the flag is displayed with another flag against a wall using crossed staffs, the United States flag should be on its own right, and its staff should be in front of the staff of the other flag.
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 dipped to any person or thing. State flags, regimental colors, and organization or institutional flags are to be dipped as a mark of honor.
If an honor guard carries the flag for a ceremony in the area of a flag pole, the honor guard should be positioned between the flag pole and the audience.
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 to the speaker's right as he faces the audience.
When used on a speaker's platform, the flag, if displayed flat, should be displayed above and behind the speaker. Any other flag so displayed should be placed on the left of the speaker or to the right of the audience.
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 in front of the platform, and for a decoration in general.
To prevent the official party from having to put their back-sides to the audience when the flag is on the stage behind them, pre-post the Colors on the stage, or, have the honor guard post the Colors on the stage and position the official party in the front row of the audience during the National Anthem.
It is not mandatory to retire the Colors just because the Colors have been posted. It is not customary to retire the Colors if they were not formally posted.
Positioning of flags is often arbitrary and based primarily on the best location for the event. This could be directly behind the speaker, to the observer's left of the speaker, or centered together on the stage.
When positioning flags, consider the traffic flow of those participating in the ceremony, obstruction of audiovisual equipment, getting flags into the background for photographs, and practicality.
The flag should form a distinctive feature of the ceremony of unveiling a statute or monument, but it should never be used as the covering for the statute or monument.
There are no laws or regulations restricting the use of a finial on a flag staff. The eagle finial is used by the President, the Vice-President, many federal agencies, and also by many civilian organizations and private citizens. The type of finial used, if any, is a matter of preference of the individual or organization.
The placing of a fringe on the flag is optional. Fringe should be used on indoor flags only. Fringe is considered to be an "honorable enrichment only" and is not regarded as an integral part of the flag.
No part of the flag should ever be used as wearing apparel, a costume, or athletic uniform, however, a flag patch may be affixed to the uniform of military personnel, policemen, firemen, and members of patriotic organizations.
The flag patch on the left sleeve of a military uniform should have the blue field to the viewer's left. A flag patch on the right sleeve should be displayed with the blue field to the viewer's right so that the flag is facing forward and streams to the back as the person moves forward.
A flag pin should be worn on the left lapel near the heart.
When the flag is displayed on a motorcar, the staff should be fixed firmly to the chassis or clamped to the right fender. Window-mount flags should be positioned on the right side (passenger side) of the vehicle.
The flag should not be draped over the hood, top, sides, or back of a vehicle or of a railroad train or a boat.
A flag decal or a flag magnet displayed on either side of a vehicle should have the blue field towards the front of the vehicle so that the flag appears to be moving forward as the vehicle moves forward.
The flag should not be displayed on a float in a parade except from a staff.
The flag should never be used as a covering for a ceiling.
The flag should never be used as bedding or drapery. It should never be festooned, drawn back or drawn up, bunched in folds, but always allowed to fall free.
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. There is a federal criminal prohibition on the use of the flag for advertising purposes in the District of Columbia.
Advertising signs should not be fastened to a staff or halyard from which the flag is flown.
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 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.
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.
A torn flag may be mended, but a worn or tattered flag should be destroyed when it is no longer fit for display. It should be destroyed in a dignified way, preferably by burning.
When the flag is used to cover a casket, it 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.
Any rule or custom pertaining to the display of the flag of the United States of America may be altered, modified, repealed, or additional rules may be prescribed, by the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of the United States. Any such alteration or additional rule shall be set forth in a proclamation.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
This information is copied from Pages 12 through 15 of the United States Flag Manual, a publication distributed by the Military Salute Project. Click the following link to view or download the complete manual ...
militarysalute.proboards.com/thread/737/united-states-flag-manual