Archive -‘Flag Etiquette’

The flag of the United States is a living symbol that calls to our spirit, reminding us of the greatness of America. We cherish and uphold it because it is the standard of honor under which we live.  The proper name of the nation’s symbol is the United States Flag; however, it is sometimes referred to as “Old Glory”.

Well, as many of you know, I just never tire of extolling the rules, regulations, respect and etiquette regarding the United States Flag, however, today, I’d like to focus on a few rules of etiquette regarding display…and behavior…if you are planning on attending any of the hundreds of military and celebratory Memorial Day weekend parades and events.

• According to www.usflag.org, on Memorial Day, the flag is to be flown at half-staff until noon, and then at full-staff until sunset.
• The flag should be down at sunset, unless you have it properly illuminated, in which case it may remain raised throughout the night.
• When raising the flag to half-staff, first raise it quickly to full-staff, then slowly down to half-staff.
• When flown or carried alongside other flags (such as state flags), The United States Flag should always be higher than the other flags.
• Flags on floats must be on a staff or against a wall (correctly oriented, with the union—the blue field of stars, to the left), not draped on the float.
• The United States Flag should never be draped over a vehicle of any kind.
• If display the flag on vehicles, the flag must be on a staff firmly fixed so that it will not fall over.
• “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.” (Title 36, Chapter 10 of the U. S.Code)
• “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.” (Title 36, Chapter 10 of the U.S. Code)
• Flags suspended over the street  should be suspended vertically with the union to the north on an east/west street or to the east on a north/south street.

• “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.” (Title 36, Chapter 10).

I hope you will have a blessed and memorable Memorial Day weekend and that should you attend memorial services on sacred military burial grounds or enjoying a festive parade, that these few tips will help you to show the respect and honor deserving of our brave veterans. 

ps:  Don’t forget to bring your own miniature flag to wave in glory and/or to place on a military burial site as  needed.

I am a true patriot.  I actually get out of my chair in my home office when I hear the National Anthem and move into the family room to stand respectfully and listen.  Yes….this is a “sports home” around here and my husband and son are ALWAYS watching SOMETHING that usually involves the National Anthem….and I’ve made it very clear to them…that in this house…we respect that.  So…stop chomping on your Doritos, take off your team’s hat, and take a moment to STAND…and LISTEN…it’s quite beautiful and moving to listen to our National Anthem. 

Now…enough about how we do it at home….what about the teams…the coaches….the fans…the media? How can I raise and teach my son to respect the National Anthem if while he is standing and listening, he sees players chewing gum (or chew), or scratching (yep, I’ve seen it), or worse yet, chattering to a player next to them (seen that too).  

What about the fans?  I seriously despise when all the fans begin to rant and rave and cheer before the National Anthem has finished.  I don’t care how excited they are about the game…really…you can’t wait for the final two lines before you drown out the vocalist.  It’s not about their talent…or stardom…it’s about The Anthem. 

Can we just get back to place of respect…less than 3 minutes of our time…to respectfully listen, imagine, and view…Old Glory…with all the respect she deserves. 

With a range of one and a half octaves, it is known for being difficult to sing. Although the song has four stanzas, only the first is commonly sung today, with the fourth (“O! thus be it ever when free men shall stand…”) added on more formal occasions.^[2] The fourth stanza includes the line “And this be our motto: In God is our Trust”.^[3] The United States adopted “In God We Trust” as its national motto in 1956.  (Source - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Star-Spangled_Banner). 

So….I give you…my own etiquette tips for the National Anthem:

1. Remove your hat – male or female:  Yes, in the old days women didn’t have to do so…but hats were pinned and tethered and formal….nowadays, girls/women are wearing team caps, remove them.
2. If you are wearing a hat, place the hat across your heart with the inside of the hat facing your heart. 
3. Address the flag – and no one or anyting else.
4. Stop chewing.
5. Stop talking.
6. Stop moving/rocking.
7. Sing along if you desire – it will bring you closer to the history.
8. If you are NOT wearing a hat, salute the flag from the first note of the anthem until the last note of the anthem.  (Yes, you may think this is odd…but you are either in uniform and know what to do, wearing a hat – and know what to do – or everyone else…and now….know what to do.

For more than 200 years, the American flag has been the symbol of our nation’s strength and unity. It’s been a source of pride and inspiration for millions of citizens. TheAmerican Flag has been a prominent icon in our national history. Here are the highlights of its unique past.On January 1, 1776, the Continental Army was reorganized in accordance with a Congressional resolution which placed American forces under George Washington’s control. On that New Year’s Day the Continental Army was laying siege to Boston which had been taken over by the British Army. Washington ordered the Grand Union flag hoisted above his base at Prospect Hill. It had 13 alternate red and white stripes and the British Union Jack in the upper left-hand corner (the canton).

In May of 1776, Betsy Ross reported that she sewed the first American flag.

On June 14, 1777, in order to establish an official flag for the new nation, the Continental Congress passed the first Flag Act: “Resolved, That the flag of the United States be made of thirteen stripes, alternate red and white; that the union be thirteen stars, white in a blue field, representing a new Constellation.”

Between 1777 and 1960, Congress passed several acts that changed the shape, design and arrangement of the flag and allowed for additional stars and stripes to be added to reflect the admission of each new state.

• Act of January 13, 1794 – provided for 15 stripes and 15 stars after May 1795.
• Act of April 4, 1818 – provided for 13 stripes and one star for each state, to be added to the flag on the 4th of July following the admission of each new state, signed by President Monroe.
• Executive Order of President Taft dated June 24, 1912 – established proportions of the flag and provided for arrangement of the stars in six horizontal rows of eight each, a single point of each star to be upward.
• Executive Order of President Eisenhower dated January 3, 1959 – provided for the arrangement of the stars in seven rows of seven stars each, staggered horizontally and vertically.
• Executive Order of President Eisenhower dated August 21, 1959 – provided for the arrangement of the stars in nine rows of stars staggered horizontally and eleven rows of stars staggered vertically.

Today the flag consists of thirteen horizontal stripes, seven red alternating with 6 white. The stripes represent the original 13 colonies, the stars represent the 50 states of the Union. The colors of the flag are symbolic as well: Red symbolizes Hardiness and Valor, White symbolizes Purity and Innocence and Blue represents Vigilance, Perseverance and Justice.

If you have suggestions, comments or questions about any current or historical American Flags, visit this discussion board . USA Flag Site does not sell flags. Visit American Flagpole & Flag as a good source of American Flags for sale.

This post permitted by:   USA Flag Site

Village News article on Flag Etiquette

Flag etiquette and protocol entails a variety of codes that apply to state and military flags. Wikipedia lists several rules of respect that are outlined in the U.S. Flag Code.

When flying the United States of America flag, one may also refer to the National Flag Foundation to answer a multitude of questions from folding, raising and lowering, displaying on vehicles, flag groupings, half-staff ceremony, and more.  The American Flag is a living symbol of our country and represents the past and present sacrifices for freedom and liberty.  It is an honor to fly my American flag high upon it’s mast in dedication to those sacrifices and to respect the code and protocol of it’s proper usage, handling, and ceremonial display.

Please visit the National Flag Foundation for all  protocol on our American Flag.

The flag of the United States is a living symbol that calls to our spirit, reminding us of the greatness of America. We cherish and uphold it because it is the standard of honor under which we live.  The proper name of the nation’s symbol is the United States Flag; however, it is sometimes referred to as Old Glory.

We view the flag with devotion, for it represents our national heritage of noble deeds, splendid accomplishment, and untold sacrifices which combined to establish the moral character of our country. Our flag is a symbol that makes our past one with the present and makes the present a foundation for tomorrow.

It signifies a people dedicated to liberty, justice and freedom for all.

It is our companion around the world. It summons confidence on sight. There is a magic in its folds that continually renews the hope that this nation, under God, will long be an example everywhere for all who love freedom with honor.

We give homage to the flag because it stands for the courageous, earnest, and unselfish experiences of our people who have given us strength as a nation and pride as citizens.

We respect our flag because we have respect for our fellow citizens, and because our love for country finds its center in our flag.

The customs and traditions which surround the display and use of our flag are guides to the means by which we as proud and grateful citizens may demonstrate the ultimate respect for the flag of our nation. In honoring and saluting our flag we demonstrate affection for our nation, fellow citizens and the proud future we share.

Please visit The National Flag Foundation for all rules of protocol for the United States Flag.