How to Fly the United States Flag

· The flag should be hoisted briskly and lower ceremoniously.

· The flag is never allowed to touch the ground or the floor.

· When hung over a sidewalk on a rope extending from a building to a pole the union stars are always away from the building.

· When vertically hung over the center of a street, the flag always has the union stars to the north in an east/west street, and to the east in a north/south street.

· The flag of the United State of American should be at the center and the highest point of the group when a number of flags of the states or localities or pennants of societies are grouped and displayed from staffs.

· The flag should never be festooned, drawn back, nor up. In the fold but always allowed to fall free.

· The flag should be displayed at half-staff until noon on Memorial Day the raised to the top of the staff.

· Never fly the flag upside down except as a signal of distress in instances of extreme danger to life or property.

· The flag is never flown in inclement weather except when using an all-weather flag.

· The flag can be flown every day from sunrise to sunset and at night if illumined properly.

How to fly our American Flag: Inside

· When on a speaker's podium, the flag should be either above and behind the speaker, or to the speaker's right as he faces the audience.

· When displayed either horizontally or vertically against a wall, the union (blue field) should be uppermost and to the flag's right, that is, the observer's left.

· In a window, or suspended above a corridor, the flag should hang with the union on the viewer's left.

How our Government offices fly the United State Of Americas Flag:

· The flag should be flown daily at the main administration building of public institutions.

· Polling places should display a flag on election days.

· School buildings should display a flag when school is in session.

· Flags should fly at half-staff on the deaths of certain government officials.

· When the flag is displayed against a wall with another flag from crossed staffs, the U.S. flag should be on the right (facing the audience) and its staff should be on top of the other flag's.

How to fly the American Flag in a Parade:

· When the flag is carried in procession with other flags, it should be either on the right of the line of flags, or in front of the center of the line.

· On floats, the flag should be displayed on a staff.

· The flag should not be draped over a car, train, or boat. When displayed with a car, the flag's staff should be attached to the right fender, or the chassis.

· The flag should be held upright and should not be dipped to any person or thing. Regimental, state, or organizational flags may be dipped.

Decorative uses of the American Flag.

· The flag should never be used as clothing, bedding, or drapery. Red, white, and blue bunting may be used as decoration instead, with the blue on top, white in the middle, and red below.

· The flag should never be part of a uniform, but a flag patch or lapel pin can be part of a police or other uniform.

· The flag should not be used to cover a statue or monument.

· The flag should not be used to cover a ceiling.

· Advertising banners should not be hung from the same staff as a flag.

· The flag should not appear on napkins, boxes, or other disposable items, nor should it be embroidered on cushions, handkerchiefs, or similar objects.

Flag Maintenance, The flag should never be carried flat or horizontally, but always aloft and free. Care should be taken not to let the flag get torn, dirty, or damaged. The flag should never have placed upon it, nor attached to it, any mark, insignia, letter, word, figure, design, picture, or drawing.

Previous to Flag Day, June 14, 1923 there were no federal or state regulations governing display of the United States Flag. It was on this date that the National Flag Code was adopted by the National Flag Conference, which was attended by representatives of the Army and Navy, which had evolved their own procedures, and some 66 other national groups. This purpose of providing guidance based on the Army and Navy procedures relating to display and associated questions about the U.S. Flag was adopted by all organizations in attendance.

A few minor changes were made a year later during the Flag Day 1924 Conference. It was not until June 22, 1942 that Congress passed a joint resolution which was amended on December 22, 1942 to become Public Law 829; Chapter 806, 77th Congress, 2nd session. Exact rules for use and display of the flag (36 U.S.C. 173-178) as well as associated sections (36 U.S.C. 171) Conduct during Playing of the National Anthem, (36 U.S.C. 172) the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag, and Manner of Delivery were included.

The code is the guide for all handling and display of the Stars and Stripes. It does not impose penalties for misuse of the United States Flag. That is left to the states and to the federal government for the District of Columbia. Each state has its own flag law.

Criminal penalties for certain acts of desecration to the flag were contained in Title 18 of the United States Code prior to 1989. The Supreme Court decision in Texas v. Johnson; June 21, 1989, held the statute unconstitutional. This statute was amended when the Flag Protection Act of 1989 (Oct. 28, 1989) imposed a fine and/or up to I year in prison for knowingly mutilating, defacing, physically defiling, maintaining on the floor or trampling upon any flag of the United States. The Flag Protection Act of 1989 was struck down by the Supreme Court decision, United States vs. Eichman, decided on June 11, 1990.

While the Code empowers the President of the United States to alter, modify, repeal or prescribe additional rules regarding the Flag, no federal agency has the authority to issue 'official' rulings legally binding on civilians or civilian groups. Consequently, different interpretations of various provisions of the Code may continue to be made. The Flag Code may be fairly tested: 'No disrespect should be shown to the Flag of the United States of America.' Therefore, actions not specifically included in the Code may be deemed acceptable as long as proper respect is shown.

When to Fly the Flag: These days, displaying the flag every day is very common. It demonstrates support for our nation and our troops. For those choosing specific days to display the flag, special days have been identified for displaying the flag. Unless lit, the flag should be displayed from sunrise to sunset, weather permitting, on the following special days: Flag Display Days.

New Year's Day - January 1
Martin Luther King Day - Third Monday in January
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
Peace Officers Memorial Day (half-staff) - May 15
Armed Forces Day - Third Saturday in May
Memorial Day (half-staff until noon) - Last Monday in May
Flag Day - June 14
Father's Day - Third Sunday in June)
Independence Day - July 4
Korean War Veterans Day (half-staff) - July 27
Labor Day -- First Monday in September
Patriot Day - (half-staff) September 11
Constitution Day - September 17
Gold Star Mothers Day - Last Sunday in September
Columbus Day - Second Monday in October
Navy Day - October 27
Election Day - First Tuesday in November
Veterans Day - November 11
Thanksgiving Day - Fourth Thursday in November
National Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day (half-staff) - December 7
Christmas Day - December 25
State Birthdays Holidays (and other days as may be proclaimed by the President of the United States.)

You can find more great flag facts, proper flag etiquette, patriotic poems and stories at americanonlineflags.com