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FLAG LAWS AND
REGULATIONS
The laws relating to the flag of the United States of
America are found in detail in the United States Code. Title 4,
Chapter 1 pertains to the flag and seal, seat of Government and the
States; Title 18, Chapter 33 pertains to crimes and criminal procedures;
Title 36, Chapter 10
pertains to patriotic customs and observances. These laws were
supplemented by Executive Orders and Presidential Proclamations.
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Title
36, Chapter 10 - PATRIOTIC CUSTOMS
§171.
National anthem; Star-Spangled Banner, conduct during playing
§172.
Pledge of Allegiance to the flag; manner of delivery
§173.
Display and Use of flag by civilians; codification of rules and customs; definition
§174.
Time and occasions for display
§175.
Position and manner of display
§176.
Respect for the Flag
§177.
Conduct during hoisting, lowering or passing of flag
§178.
Modifications of rules and customs by President
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§171.
National anthem; Star-Spangled Banner, conduct during playing
During rendition of the national anthem when the flag is displayed, all
present except those in uniform should stand at attention facing the
flag with the right hand over the heart. Men not in uniform should
remove their headdress with their right hand and hold it at the left
shoulder, the hand being over the heart. Persons in uniform should
render the military salute at the first note of the anthem and retain
this position until the last note. When the flag is not displayed,
those present should face toward the music and act in the same manner
they would if the flag were displayed there.
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§172.
Pledge of Allegiance to the flag; manner of delivery
The
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." should be rendered by standing at attention facing the flag
with the right hand over the heart. 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. Persons in uniform should
remain silent, face the flag, and render the military salute.
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§173.
Display and Use of flag by civilians; codification of rules and customs;
definition
The
following codification of existing rules and customs pertaining to the
display and use of the flag of the United States of America is
established for the use of such civilians or civilian groups or
organizations as may not be required to conform with regulations
promulgated by one or more executive departments of the Government of
the United States. The flag of the United States for the purpose
of the chapter shall be defined according to Title 4, United States
Code, chapter 1, section 1 and section 2 and Executive Order 10834
issued pursuant thereto.
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§174.
Time and occasions for display
(a) It is the universal custom to display the flag only from
sunrise to sunset on buildings and on a stationary flagstaffs in the
open. However, when a patriotic effect is desired, the flag may be
displayed twenty-four hours a day if properly illuminated during the
hours of darkness.
(b) The flag should be hoisted briskly and lowered
ceremoniously.
(c) The flag should not be displayed on days when the
weather is inclement, except when an all weather flag is displayed.
(d) The flag should be displayed on all days especially on
New Year's Day, January 1; Inauguration Day, January 20; Lincoln's
Birthday, February 12; Washington's Birthday, third Monday in February;
Easter Sunday (variable); Mother's Day, second Sunday in May; Armed
Forces Day, third Saturday in May; Memorial Day (half-staff until noon),
the last Monday in May; Flag Day, June 14; Independence Day, July 4;
Labor Day, first Monday in September; Constitution Day, September 17;
Columbus Day, second Monday in October; Navy Day, October 27; Veterans
Day, November 11; Thanksgiving Day, fourth Thursday in November;
Christmas Day, December 25; and such other days as may be proclaimed by
the President of the United State; the birthdays of States (date of
admission); and on State holidays.
(e) The flag should be displayed daily on or near the main
administration building of every public institution.
(f) The flag should be displayed in or near every polling
place on election day.
(g) The flag should be displayed during school days in or
near every schoolhouse.
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§175.
Position and manner of display
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.
(a) The flag should not be displayed on a float in a parade
except from a staff, or as provided in subsection (i) of this section.
(b) The flag should not be draped over the hood, top,
sides, or back of a vehicle or of a railroad train or boat. When
the flag is displayed on a motorcar, the staff shall be fixed firmly to
the chassis or clamped to the right fender.
(c) No other flag or pennant should be placed above or, if
on the same level, to the right of the flag of the United States of
America, except during church services conducted by naval chaplains at
sea, when the church pennant may be flown above the flag during church
services for the personnel of the Navy. No person shall display
the flag of the United Nations or any other national or international
flag equal, above, or in a position of superior prominence or honor to,
or in place of, the flag of the United States at any place within the
United States or any Territory or possession thereof: Provided, That
nothing in this section shall make unlawful the continuance of the
practice heretofore followed of displaying the flag of the United
Nations in a position or superior prominence or honor, and other
national flags in positions of equal prominence or honor, with that of
the flag of the United States at the headquarters of the United
Nations.
(d) The flag of the United States of America, when it is
displayed with another flag against a wall from crossed staffs, should
be on the right, the flag's own right, and its staff should be in front
of the staff of the other flag.
(e) 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.
(f) When flags of States, cities, or localities, or
pennants of societies are flown on the same halyard with the flag of the
United States, the latter 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 United
States flag's right.
(g) 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 or approximately equal size. International usage forbids
the display of the flag of one nation above that of another nation in
time of peace.
(h) When the flag of the United States is displayed from a
staff projecting horizontally or at an angle from the window sill,
balcony, or front of a building, the union of the flag should be placed
at the peak of the staff unless the flag is a half staff. When the
flag of suspended over a sidewalk 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.
(i) 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, the flag should be displayed in the same way, with the union or
blue field to the left of the observer in the street.
(j) When the flag is displayed 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.
(k) 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 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.
(l) The flag should form a distinctive feature of the
ceremony of unveiling a statue or monument, but it should never be used
as the covering for the statue or monument.
(m) The flag, when 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. On Memorial Day the flag should be displayed
at half-staff until noon only, then raised to the top of the staff.
By order of the President, the flag shall be flown at half-staff upon
the death of principal figures of the United States Government and the
Governor of a State, territory, or possession, as a mark of respect to
their memory. In the event of the death of other officials or
foreign dignitaries, the flag is to be displayed at half-staff according
to Presidential instructions or orders, or in accordance with recognized
customs or practices not inconsistent with law. In the event of
the death of a present or former official of the government of any
State, territory, or possession may proclaim that the National flag
shall be flown at half-staff. The flag shall be flown at
half-staff thirty days from the death of the President or a former
President; ten days from the day of death of the Vice President, the
Chief Justice or a retired Chief Justice of the United States, or the
Speaker of the House of Representative; from the day of death until
interment of an Associated Justice of the Supreme Court, a Secretary of
an executive or military department, a former Vice President, or the
Governor of a State, territory, or possession; and on the day of death
and the following day for a Member of Congress. As used in this
subsection--
(1) the term "half-staff" means the position of the
flag when it is on-half the distance between the top and bottom of the
staff;
(2) the term "executive or military department" means
any agency listed under section 101 and 102 of title 5, United State
Code; and
(3) the term "Member of Congress" means a Senator, a
Representative, a Delegate, or the Resident Commissioner from Puerto
Rico.
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(n) When the flag is 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.
(o) When the flag is suspended across a corridor or lobby
in a building with only one main entrance, it should be suspended
vertically with the union of the flag to the observer's left upon
entering. If the building has more than one main entrance, the
flag should be suspended vertically near the center of the corridor or
lobby with the union to the north, when entrances are to the east and
west or to the east when entrances are to the north and south.
If there are entrances in more than two directions, the union should be
to the east.
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§176.
Respect for the Flag
No disrespect should be shown to
the flag of the United States of America: the flag should not be dipped
to any person or thing. Regimental colors, State flags, and organization
or institutional flags are to be dipped as a mark of honor.
(a) The flag should
never be displayed with the union down, except as a signal of dire
distress in instances of extreme danger to life or property.
(b) The flag should
never touch anything beneath it, such as the ground, the floor, water or
merchandise.
(c) The flag should
never be carried flat or horizontally, but always aloft and free.
(d) The flag should
never be used as wearing apparel, bedding, or drapery. It should never
be festooned, drawn back, nor up, in folds, but always allowed to fall
free. Bunting of blue, white, and red, always with the blue above, the
white in the middle, and the red below, should be used for covering a
speaker’s desk, draping the front of the platform, and for decoration
in general.
(e) The flag should
never be fastened, displayed, used, or stored in such a manner as to
permit it to be easily torn, soiled or damaged in any way.
(f) The flag should
never be used as a covering for a ceiling.
(g) The flag should
never have placed upon it, nor on any part of it, nor attached to it any
mark, insignia, letter, word, figure, design, picture, or drawing of any
nature.
(h) The flag should
never be used as a receptacle for receiving, holding, carrying, or
delivering anything.
(i) The flag should
never be used for advertising purposes in any manner whatsoever. It
should not be embroidered on such articles as cushions or handkerchiefs
and the like, printed or otherwise impressed on paper napkins or boxes
or anything that is designed for temporary use and discard. Advertising
signs should not be fastened to a staff or halyard from which the flag
is flown.
(j) No part of the
flag should ever be used as a costume or athletic uniform. However, a
flag patch may be affixed to the uniform of military personnel, firemen,
policemen, and members of patriotic organizations. The flag represents a
living country and is itself considered a living thing. Therefore, the
lapel flag pin being a replica, should be worn on the left lapel near
the heart.
(k) The flag, when
it is in such condition that it is no longer a fitting emblem for
display, should be destroyed in a dignified way, preferably by burning.
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§177.
Conduct during hoisting, lowering or passing of flag
During the ceremony of hoisting or lowering the flag
or when the flag is passing in a parade or 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.
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§178.
Modifications of rules and customs by President
Any rule or custom pertaining to the display of the
flag of the United States of America, set forth herein, may be altered,
modified, or repealed, or additional rules with respect thereto may be
prescribed, by the Commander in Chief of the Armed Forces of the United
States, whenever he deems it to be appropriate or desirable; and any
such alteration and additional rule shall be set forth in a
proclamation.
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FLAG PRESENTATION
Presentation of the flag during a ceremony should be
preceded by a brief talk emphasizing the importance of the occasion.
Following the presentation all present should salute the flag, recite
the pledge of allegiance, and sing the national anthem.
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FOLDING THE FLAG
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Two persons, facing each other, hold the flag
waist high and horizontally between them.
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The lower striped section is folded, lengthwise,
over the blue field. Hold bottom to top and edges together
securely.
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Fold the flag again, lengthwise, folded edge to
open edge.
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A triangular fold is started along the length of
the flag, from the end to the heading by bringing the striped corner
of the folded edge to meet the open edge.
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The outer point is turned inward parallel with
the open edge, forming a second triangle.
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Repeat the triangular folding until the entire
length of the flag is folded.
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When the flag is completely folded only the
triangular blue field should be visible.
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CARE OF YOUR FLAG
The life of your flag depends on your care.
Dirt can cut fabrics, dull colors, and cause wear. Most outdoor
flags can be washed in mild detergent and thoroughly rinsed.
Indoor and parade flags should be dry-cleaned. Many dry cleaners
offer free cleaning of U.S. flags during the months of June and July.
Damaged flags can be repaired and utilized as long as the overall
dimensions are not noticeably altered. American Legion Posts and
local governments often have facilities to dispose of unserviceable
flags. Store your flags in a well ventilated area away from any
harsh chemicals or cleaning compounds. If your flag gets wet,
never store it until it is completely dry. Wet folds cause
permanent creases. Dampness ruins fabric and causes mildew.
Pole care is also related to flag car. Rust and scale cause
permanent stains and some metallic oxides actually eat holes in fabric.
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SIZES OF FLAGS
The size of the flag is determined by the exposed
height of the flagpole from which it is flying. The only
consideration is for the flag to be in proper proportion to its pole.
Flags which fly from angled poles on homes and those which are displayed
on standing poles in offices and other indoor displays are usually
either 3' x 5' or 4' x 6'. Color guards usually carry flags
measuring 4' x 6'. Other recommended sizes are shown in the
following table:
Flagpole Height (ft.)
Flag Size (ft.)
20 ............................... 4 x 6
25 ............................... 5 x 8
40 ............................. 6 x 10
50 ............................. 8 x 12
60 ........................... 10 x 15
70 ........................... 12 x 18
90 ........................... 15 x 25
125 ........................... 20 x 30
200 ........................... 30 x 40
250 ........................... 40 x 50
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Courtesy of Our Flag printed under
the authority of the U. S. Congress
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