Respecting the American Flag

In the light of recent events, where we have witnessed Americans stopping on the American flag and have just acknowledged Flag Day on June 14th, we find it appropriate to revisit a article written and posted by team member, Carol DelRosario over 2 years ago.  In her post she wonders whether the lack of respect given to the flag of our great country is disrespect or simply ignorance.  What do you think?

Here are the top 5 areas of etiquette every American should know and practice regarding the American flag.  She found this information at www.usflag.org in order to share it with you.

1.  Displaying, Raising and Lowering the Flag

Did you know that the flag should be raised briskly and lowered slowly and ceremoniously?  And that it should be displayed only between sunrise and sunset?  If it is displayed 24 hours it should be properly illuminated, especially at night.

And, as the flag of the United States of America is hoisted and lowered it is also to be saluted. The salute is held until the flag is unsnapped from the halyard or through the last note of music, whichever is the longest.

2.  Parading and Saluting the Flag

The flag should be to the right of the marchers when carried in a procession.  The flag of the United States may be centered in front of the others or carried to their right when they are carried in a procession. As the flag passes in a procession, or when it is hoisted or lowered, everyone should always face the flag and salute it.

3.  The Salute

To salute the flag of the United States, all persons should come to attention. For those in uniform, they are to give  the flag the appropriate formal salute. Citizens not in uniform should honor the flag by placing their right hand over the heart and men with hats should remove them and hold them to left shoulder, hand over the heart. All members of organizations who are in formation should salute upon command of the person in charge.

4.  The Pledge of Allegiance and National Anthem

The pledge of allegiance should be rendered by standing at attention, facing the flag, and saluting.

As the national anthem is played or sung, all citizens should stand at attention and salute the flag at the first note and hold the salute through the last note. The salute is always directed to the flag, if it is displayed, otherwise to the music.

5.  The Flag in Mourning

To place the flag at half staff, it should always be hoisted to the peak for an instant and then lowered to a position half way between the top and bottom of the staff. The flag is to be raised again to the peak for a moment before it is lowered. On Memorial Day the flag is displayed at half staff until noon and at full staff from noon to sunset.

The flag is to be flown at half staff in mourning for designated, principal government leaders and upon presidential or gubernatorial order. When used to cover a casket, the flag should be placed with the union at the head and over the left shoulder. It should never be lowered into the grave.

The Flag Code (provided by www.usflag.org)

The flag code formalizes and unifies the traditional ways in which we give respect to the flag, also contains specific instructions on how the flag is not to be used. They are:

• 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 as a drapery, or for covering a speakers desk, draping a platform, or for any decoration in general. Bunting of blue, white and red stripes is available for these purposes. 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 placed on it, or attached to it, any mark, insignia, letter, word, number, figure, or drawing of any kind.
• The flag should never be used as a receptacle for receiving, holding, carrying, or delivering anything.

When the flag is lowered, no part of it should touch the ground or any other object; it should be received by waiting hands and arms. To store the flag it should be folded neatly and ceremoniously.

The flag should be cleaned and mended when necessary.

When a flag is so worn it is no longer fit to serve as a symbol of our country, it should be destroyed by burning in a dignified manner.

Want to learn more about the flag of the United States?  Visit www.usflag.org a wonderful site dedicated to honoring the Flag of the United States.

Many of our buyers and sellers choose to honor the American Flag by displaying it proudly – letting it wave in the wind in front of their homes.

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