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Firefighters often have citizens stop by the station to ask about what to do with some aspect of presenting the U. S. Flag. For some reason people think that firefighters are a source of information on the subject. The odd thing is that firefighters DO seem to know more than the average person about flag etiquette. (Not counting Boy Scouts.)
A
few quick
points about some common mistakes:
These points are also highlighted in the regulation
below.
Clicking on the subject takes you to the line in the regulation or to a page
on the subject.
- It is "Half Staff" not "Half Mast".
(Unless you are on a ship, I guess.)
- Do NOT fly a
state or any other flag under the U.S. flag when it is
half staff.
- Never fly another flag above the U. S. flag.
-
It's usually best to just remove
all other flags when flying the U.S. flag at half staff.
"Burning"
the Flag-
- When disposing of a worn and tattered flag, burning the flag is a method
preferred because it renders it unrecognizable as a flag. The code simply
reads: "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." If you choose to discard a
flag, make
sure that
it
is destroyed
completely OR placed in a container so we can't see the U.S. flag in
the trash. Destroying a flag should probably be done as a somewhat
private, and not as a public, ceremony. (See below.)
It should always be done in a dignified manner. The SAR has outlined a simple
ceremony for the retirement of U. S. Flags. They are quick to point out that
this is
not something prescribed by law but rather their own way of showing respect.
You may create your own procedure as long as it is dignified and respectful.
The Boy Scouts of America also have a
prescribed ceremony. But it does not have to be a ceremony at all, just respectful.
Let's be clear. A public ceremony is one where anyone can attend. A private ceremony, regardless of the number of attendees or participants, is not open to the general public. There is nothing in the code that prohibits a public ceremony, however, many people believe that it is difficult to have a respectful presentation of a flag's destruction. If you conduct a public ceremony there will, undoubtedly, be people who will find the cutting and burning of the flag offensive, no matter how respectful your intentions. This is possibly due to the images of flag burnings that we so often see. It may also be due to the fact that there is so much misinformation or myths about the U.S. flag. Given the backlash that is possible and the fact that "respectful" is subject to interpretation, many flag websites advise that flag destruction/retirement ceremonies be somewhat private in nature.
In fairness I should mention that there are those who consider a public flag retirement ceremony as an opportunity to reinforce patriotic virtues and respect for the symbol of our nation.
Each organization or individual will have to decide for themselves on the negative or positive value of such a ceremony.
Some other
common
misconceptions, concerning flag retirement or destruction are discussed
here: http://www.sar.org/history/flag/retire.html There
is another good site about flag retirement and destruction, that deserves
credit, at: http://members.aol.com/StanDCmr/flagret.html
Which Staff Gets the US Flag?-
- The tallest pole gets the US Flag. or;
- The pole on the left gets the US Flag.
(That is to say, to the right. "The Flag's own right.")
- Usually the flag pole
WITH the eagle on top gets the U.S. flag.
- The US Flag should never be worn as any part of a garment, except as a lapel pin on a coat or as a shoulder patch on military, police, or firefighters. It should never be part of an athletic uniform. [SEC. 4 (j)]
- The flag should never be carried flat or horizontally, but always aloft and free.
Refusal
to salute or repeat pledge-
Standing silently at attention while others salute and pledge allegiance to flag
of the United States does not constitute offense or "disrespect to the flag." Bolling
v. Superior Court for Clallam County,
1943, 133 P.2d 803, 16 Wash.2d 373.
-
Face the flag at attention.
- All non-uniformed men should stand at attention, remove hats and hold at left
shoulder.
This
puts
the
hand
over
the heart.
- Uniformed personnel should
render military salute.
- Uniformed
personnel do not speak or sing while rendering the salute.
Federal law establishes
rules and customs for when and how to display the flag.
Here is that law,
in it's entirety. The points above have been highlighted.
To amend the joint resolution entitled "Joint resolution to codify and emphasize existing rules and customs pertaining to the display and use of the flag of the United States of America".
Resolved by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, That the joint resolution entitled "Joint resolution to codify and emphasize existing rules and customs pertaining to the display and use of the flag of the United States of America", as amended (36 U.S.C. 171-178), is amended --
SEC. I That the
following codification of existing rules and customs pertaining
to the display and use of the flag of the United States of America be,
and is hereby, 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 this chapter shall be
defined according to title 4, United States Code, Chapter I, section I and
section
2 and Executive Order 10834 issued pursuant thereto.
SEC. 2
(a) It is the universal custom to display the flag only from sunrise to
sunset on buildings and on 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 States; 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
days.
(g) The flag should be displayed during school days in or near every
schoolhouse.
SEC. 3 That 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 (j).
(b) The flag should not be draped over the hood, top, sides, or back
of a vehicle or of a railroad train or a boat. When the flag is displayed
on a
motor car,
the staff should 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. (See Public Law 107, page 4)
(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
of 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 at half staff. When the flag is 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 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 of the United
States, the
Governor of that 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
Representatives;
from
the day of death until interment of an Associate 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 one-half the distance between the top and bottom of the staff;
(2) the term 'executive or military department' means any agency listed under sections 101 and 102 of title 5, United States Code; and
(3) the term Member of Congress' means a Senator, a Representative, a Delegate, or the Resident Commissioner from Puerto Rico.
(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.
SEC. 4 That no
disrespect should be shown to the flag 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,
(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 arranged
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.
SEC. 5 During
the ceremony of hoisting or lowering the flag or when the flag is passing
in a parade or in 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.
SEC. 6 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.
SEC. 7 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.
SEC. 8 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
or additional
rule
shall be set forth
in proclamation.
Links to other U.S. Flag Sites. Some have more info.
http://www.bcpl.net/~etowner/flagcode.html
http://www.sar.org/colors/Flag-Act.htm
http://www.ocio.usda.gov/directives/files/dr/DR5160-004.html