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American Flag Etiquette: Do You Know The Code?

Here's an incomplete list of the Code. There's a link on the bottom of this blog if you're interested in the complete list. Happy Memorial Day America.

1. The flag should be lighted at all times, either by sunlight or by an appropriate light source.

2. The flag should be flown in fair weather, unless the flag is designed for inclement weather use.

3. The flag should never be dipped to any person or thing. It is flown upside down only as a distress signal.

4. The flag should not be used 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.

5. 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.

6. 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.

7. The flag should never have any mark, insignia, letter, word, number, figure, or drawing of any kind placed on it, or attached to it.

8, The flag should never be used for receiving, holding, carrying, or delivering anything.

9. 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.

10. The flag should be cleaned and mended when necessary.

11. 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.

12. 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.

13. 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.

American Flag Info

Girly Comments & Graphics

Posted: 5/24/2008 at 16:32

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Greg

I have a story about this:
When I was in high school, I worked for McDonald's. Every summer, Cape Cod is innundated with people from other countries. this particular year, we had an influx of Brazilians. I met several of these guys that had left their families in Brazil and came to America in the hope of earning enough money to make a better life for themselves. Five of these men got jobs at McDonald's, so I was able to get to know them fairly well. Only one of them actually spoke any English when they arrived, but most of them had learned enough to communicate by the time I left for college at the end of the summer. These guys rented one house with about 10 other guys and rode bikes to and from work in an effort to put put away more money than they spent. They were extremely grateful for the opportunity to work in the USA.

To be continued...

Reply | 5/28/2008 12:54:16 PM

Greg

The McDonald's that I worked at had a flag pole in front. Having been a boy scout, I took it upon myself to take in the flag every night, fold it, and store it properly for the night on the days that I worked (as I was saving money for college, I worked 6 nights a week so I was able to do this regularly).

Three of the Brazilian guys, sadly I do not remember their names, worked frequently with me. One day, the fellow that could speak some English tapped me on the shoulder and requested that he and his friends be able to assist me with taking in the flag.

These guys stood at attention, and saluted the flag as I lowered it. One of them moved to gather the flag to prevent it from touching the ground as it came down. A second man unhooked the flag from the line. The two of them then proceeded to fold the flag PROPERLY. Folded, tucked, with thirteen stars exposed and no sign of a stripe, the third man - the English speaking man - took the flag from them in both hands...

Reply | 5/28/2008 1:01:56 PM

Greg

...and proceeded to store the flag away for the night.

I was blown away! These men had more respect for our flag and what it represents than most of the people that I worked with that summer. They understood what the flag meant and the price that was paid in order that we might fly it.

While I cannot remember their names, I will never forget their faces as that memory is burned permanently on my brain.

Reply | 5/28/2008 1:08:06 PM

Gtargirl	Pretty awesome, Greg. I wonder where these guys are now.
	Reply \| 5/29/2008 2:06:18 PM

Janet

Thank you, I was taught some of those codes when I attended a country school and each of us were assigned to raise and lower the flag during the school year. It is wonderful that we have such respect for our national symbol and we must remember that Our Lord is above all national symbols. He was the reason this nation was established.

Reply | 5/24/2008 7:02:49 PM