3 minute read
Did you know?
The American Flag - Rules for Displaying the American Flag
With Memorial Day, Independence Day, and a few others, there’s no lack of patriotic holidays in the United States. But one in particular is all about the star spangled banner that flies o’er the land of the free and the home of the brave. Flag Day—June 14—is the official commemoration of the stars and stripes as the country’s standard.
The flag was officially adopted on June 14, 1777 at the Second Continental Congress, and since then, Americans have flown it at their homes, written songs about it and a pledge to it, and emblazoned it on everything from sunglasses to swim trunks. An estimated 150 million American flags are sold every year, with 76 percent of Americans 65 years and older saying they or their family owns a flag. Even 62 percent of 18-24 year olds say they or their family owns one, according to the National Retail Federation.
Such an important emblem of American ideals brings with it strict decorum. In 1923, a group of organizations headed by the American Legion outlined the National Flag Code as a set of rules on how to correctly display the flag, which were then turned into law during World War II as the United States Flag Code. There are some obvious stipulations, like making sure the flag never hits the ground. But there are some out-of-left-field requirements as well. For instance, per the code, the flag is to be considered a living thing.
Just in case you need a quick rundown of the flag dos-and-don’ts, here are some lesser-known rules for displaying the flag.
NO FLAG CAN HOLD PROMINENCE OVER THE AMERICAN FLAG—THOUGH
THERE ARE TWO EXCEPTIONS - For Americans, Old Glory is tops when it comes to the flag-flying game. But despite the general rule that it should always be the most prominent, it’s not always the most important.
Section 7 of the flag code decrees that no flag should be placed above the flag of the United States, but one exception is that the flag of the United Nations can be flown in a superior position, although only at the U.N. headquarters in New York.
One other exception involves a church’s pennant being allowed to fly above the American flag during services performed by naval chaplains while at sea. As for your house? It looks like you should definitely make sure the American flag is up top.
YOU CAN FLY MULTIPLE COUNTRY FLAGS, BUT OLD GLORY GETS DIBS - If, say, Mexican-Americans want to display their heritage with the stars and stripes and the bandera nacional together, both are to be flown from separate staffs of the same height, and they should be equal in size. But on U.S. soil the American flag should always be placed in a position of honor, meaning fly the flag to its own right (the viewer’s left). If you have a few different country flags, the flags should be raised and lowered at the same time.
YOU CAN FLY THE FLAG ALL YEAR ROUND IF IT’S NYLON - If a storm’s coming, take down your flag. It’s as easy as that. Despite the fact that the code says “the flag should not be displayed on days when the weather is inclement,” it does make an exception for “when an all weather flag is displayed.”
An all-weather flag is one made from nylon, polyester, or other non-absorbent materials, which shouldn’t be hard to find—most flags nowadays are meant to be flown outdoors and are made of all-weather materials. Best to leave that old cotton flag properly stored indoors.
YOU CAN STILL FLY YOUR FLAG IN THE DARK - Lowering or taking down the flag at sunset isn’t strictly enforced by the code, it’s just a “universal custom.” Yet when “a patriotic effect is desired,” you can let that thing soar at all hours of the day and night so long as it’s “properly illuminated” during the evening and hours of darkness.
