Flag Codes, Etiquette, Rules, and Guidelines
Provided by Jim Cullingworth,
Ferris Goodridge Post #330 of the American Legion
As we approach parade season and several national holidays where the American Flag is displayed, here are a few things Veterans would like to remind you of:
You should stand for the American Flag, if you are physically able, when an American Flag is passing in a parade or being hoisted or lowered. Military and Veterans should stand at attention and salute.
The custom is to display the flag only from sunrise to sunset on flagstaffs in the open, but it may be displayed at night, if illuminated, to produce a patriotic effect.
When the flag is hung vertically on a wall or door, the union (blue section) should be to the observer’s left. When the flag is hung either horizontally or vertically in a window, the union should be to the observer’s left (from outside).
When displayed over a street, the flag 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.
The flag should be hoisted briskly and lowered ceremoniously.
When flown at half-staff, the flag should be first hoisted to the peak for an instant, then lowered to the half-staff position. It should again be raised to the peak before it is lowered for the day. Half-staff is one-half the distance between the top and the bottom of the staff.
The flag should not be displayed on a parade float except from a staff, nor draped over the hood, top, sides, or back of a vehicle.
When displayed on a vehicle, the staff should be fixed firmly to the chassis.
How to properly dispose of an American Flag
If the U.S. flag touches the ground, it does not need to be disposed of. This is a myth. Ensure the flag is washed or dry cleaned. Some dry cleaners will do this for free.
However, if the flag is torn, frayed, or in a condition that it is no longer a fitting emblem, it should be destroyed in a dignified and ceremonious fashion, preferably by burning.
Most American Legion Posts conduct an annual ceremony, often on Flag Day (June 14), to retire old or worn flags; contact your local chapter if you are unable to dispose of the flag yourself. There is a retired flag drop-off box at Ferris Goodridge Post #330 at 691 Trimmer Road, Spencerport.
Note: Although this is a U.S. Federal law, following the flag code is voluntary and meant as a guideline. The flag of the United States is the emblem of our identity as a sovereign nation, which the United States of America has been for almost 250 years.
