American Flag Etiquette | Knights of Columbus 13133 | Forney, Texas
Rules for Display of the American Flag
General Etiquette
The flagpole should be illuminated at all times, either by sunlight or an appropriate light source at night.
The flag should be flown in fair weather, unless the flag is designed for inclement weather use.
The flag should never be dipped to any person or thing. It is flown upside down only as a distress signal.
The flag should not be used for any decoration in general. Bunting of blue, white and red stripes is available for this purpose. The blue stripe of the bunting should be on the top.
The
flag
should
never
be
used
for
any
advertising
purpose.
It
should
not
be
embroidered,
printed
or
otherwise
impressed
on
such
articles
as
cushions,
handkerchiefs,
napkins,
boxes, or anything intended to be discarded after temporary use. Advertising signs should not be attached to the staff or halyard.
The
flag
should
not
be
used
as
part
of
a
costume
or
athletic
uniform,
except
that
a
flag
patch
may
be
used
on
the
uniform
of
military
personnel,
fireman,
policeman
and
members
of patriotic organizations.
The flag should never have any mark, insignia, letter, word, number, figure, or drawing of any kind placed on it, or attached to it.
The flag should never be used for receiving, holding, carrying, or delivering anything.
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.
With Another Flag Against a Wall from Crossed Staffs
Should be on the right, the flag's own right which is the viewer's left, and its staff should be in front of the staff of the other flag.
Flown at Half-staff
Should
be
first
hoisted
to
the
peak
for
an
instant
and
then
lowered
to
the
half-staff
position.
The
flag
should
be
again
raised
to
the
peak
before
it
is
lowered
for
the
day.
By
"half-
staff"
is
meant
lowering
the
flag
to
one-half
the
distance
between
the
top
and
bottom
of
the
staff.
Crepe
streamers
may
be
affixed
to
spear
heads
or
flagstaffs
in
a
parade
only
by
order of the President of the United States.
Flown on the Same Halyard with Non-Nation Flags
The
American
Flag
should
always
be
at
the
peak.
When
the
flags
are
flown
from
adjacent
staffs,
the
flag
of
the
United
States
should
be
hoisted
first
and
lowered
last.
No
such
flag or pennant may be placed above the flag of the United States or to the right of the flag of the United States.
Suspended Over a Sidewalk
The flag may be suspended 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.
From a Staff Projecting Horizontally or at an Angle
The flag may be projected from the window sill, balcony, or front of a building, with the union of the flag placed at the peak of the staff unless the flag is at half-staff.
In a Parade with Other Flags
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.
With Non-National Flags
The
flag
of
the
United
States
of
America
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.
With Other National Flags
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.
From a Staff in a Church or Public Auditorium on a Podium
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 (to the right of the audience).
From a Staff in a Church or Public Auditorium off the Podium
Custom
and
not
the
flag
code
hold
that
the
flag
of
the
United
States
of
America
should
hold
the
position
of
superior
prominence
as
part
of
the
audience,
in
the
position
of
honor
at the audience's right.
Used to Cover a Casket
It should be so placed 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.
Other than being Flown from a Staff
The
flag
should
be
displayed
flat,
whether
indoors
or
out.
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
displayed
in
a
window
it
should
be
displayed
in
the
same
way,
that
is
with
the
union
or
blue
field
to
the
left
of
the
observer
in
the
street.
When festoons, rosettes or drapings are desired, bunting of blue, white and red should be used, but never the flag.