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Flag Etiquette
The U.S. flag can be flown everyday of the
year. If it is flown for 24 hours, it should be illuminated so the
flag is not in complete darkness. The
flag is half-staffed (sunrise to sunset) on the following days: Peace
Officers Memorial Day, May 15; National Korean War Armistice Day,
July 27; Patriot Day, Sept. 11; and National Pearl Harbor
Remembrance Day, Dec. 7.
Here are some of the rules for proper display and
use of the U.S. flag, as established by generally accepted custom and by
Public Law 94-344 approved by Congress and signed by the
President in 1976. The Flag Code does not impose penalties for the
misuse of the flag. Such penalties are determined by the
individual states and the District of Columbia.
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Bunting
The U.S. flag should never be used as
drapery, never festooned, drawn back, nor up, in folds. It
should always be allowed to fall free. Bunting should be
used for decoration: First blue, then white, then red. |
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Behind a Speaker
When used on a speaker's platform, the
flag, if displayed flat should be above and behind the
speaker. Use bunting to decorate a speaker's desk or the
front of the platform. |
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Over a Street
When the U.S. flag is displayed other
than from a staff, it should be displayed flat, or suspended so
its folds fall free. When displayed over a street, place the
union so it faces north or east, depending on the direction of the
street. *When displaying the Alaska
state flag vertically, the Big Dipper can face either right or left.
There is no state statue or regulation dictating the direction of
the Alaska state flag when hung vertically. |
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From a Building
When the flag is displayed from a staff
projecting from a windowsill, balcony or building front, the union
of the flag should always be at the peak of the staff unless the
flag is half-staff. |
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On a Wall
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' left. In a
window, the union should be to the flag's right when viewed from
outside. *When displaying the
Alaska state flag vertically, the Big Dipper can face either right
or left. There is no state statue or regulation dictating the
direction of the Alaska state flag when hung vertically. |
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On a Staff
When the U.S. flag is flown with flags or
pennants of states, cities or societies, it should always be at
the peak. When flown from adjacent staffs, the U.S. flag
should be hoisted first and lowered last. |
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National Flags
When flags of two or more nations are
displayed together, they should be flown from separate staffs of
the same height, and the flags should be of approximately equal
size. |
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In a Parade
When carried in a parade front with other
flags, the U.S. flag should always be to the marching right of the
other flags, or to the front and center of the flag line. |
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Showing Respect
When the flag is raised, lowered or is
passing in a parade or review, everyone present, except military
personnel, should face the flag and place his or her hand over the
heart. Men remove their hats. Military personnel
salute. |
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Memorial Day
the flag should be briskly raised in the
morning to the top, then lowered slowly to half-staff. At
noon, the flag should be raised to the top again. |
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On a Casket
When the flag is used on a casket, its
union should be over the deceased's left shoulder. Carry the
casket foot first. The flag should not be lowered into the
grave or allowed to touch the ground. |
How
to Fold the U.S. Flag
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| Begin by holding
the flag waist-high with another person so its surface is parallel
to the ground. |
Fold
lengthwise. Bring the striped half up over the blue field.
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Fold
lengthwise. Bring the striped half up over the blue field. |
Fold the lower right hand corner to the
upper edge to form a triangle.
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Now fold the lower right hand corner to
the upper edge to form a triangle.
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Keep folding until you have a triangle
with only the blue fields showing. There should be 12 folds
in all if you did it right. It should end up in a triangle
shape like the revolutionaries' hats.
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Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag
"I Pledge Allegiance to the Flag of the
United States of America, and to the Republic for which it stands, one
Nation, under God, Indivisible, with Liberty and Justice for all."
The pledge is recited while at attention and saluting with the right
hand over the heart. Men in civilian dress remove their headdress;
children do the same. Non citizens show respect by merely standing
at attention. People in uniform will remain silent and render the
military salute. Members in civilian patriotic and veteran
organizations (U.S. military, firemen and police) may recite the pledge
while at military salute. At a parade, all people stand and salute
as the lead U.S. flag in each Division passes. Civilian men remove
their hat. Uniformed personnel render the military salute.
An American's Creed
I believe in the United States of America
as a Government of the people, by the people, for the people, whose just
powers are derived from the consent of the governed; a democracy in a
Republic; a sovereign National of many sovereign States; a perfect
Union, one and inseparable; established upon those principles of
freedom, equality, justice, and humanity for which American patriots
sacrificed their lives and fortunes. I therefore believe it is my
duty to my country to love it; protect its Constitution; to obey its
laws; to respect its flag; and to defend it against all enemies."
Adopted in Congress by the U.S. House of Representatives on April 3,
1918
Information provided by VFW Citizenship Education and Community Service
For additional information visit the VFW website: www.vfw.org
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