Old Glory
Flag Laws and Regulations
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 it 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 1, Section 1
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 (i).
(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 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.
(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 AssociateJustice 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 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 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.
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 a proclamation.
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 position of 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.