What Is Proper Flag Etiquette?

Plea For People To Hang Flags

Darlene Dunn, Staff Writer

NEW YORK -- There has been a plea for Americans to display flags to show their patriotism after the terrorist attacks at the World Trade Center and the Pentagon.

President Bush has ordered that flags be flown at half-staff until Sept. 23 in memory of the victims of the attacks.

Learn more about the history of the American flag or how it should be displayed. If you would like to download a screensaver or set up a patriotic wallpaper on your computer, we have provided links and instructions for you to do that as well.

Sept. 14 was designated U.S. Pride Day to show support of fellow Americans who have died during the recent terrorist attacks. People are being asked to wear red, white and blue.

In addition, people are being were asked to light a candle outdoors at 7 p.m. Friday.

Flag Demand High

A Missouri flag-maker says orders in the millions have flooded his company since Tuesday's terrorist attacks.

Peter Buhrman's company usually supplies 200,000 American flags at holidays. By noon today, he was approaching orders for 3 million flags. His company usually supplies large flags to retail stores and government agencies. Most ordered this week are of the handheld variety. Wal-Mart -- the nation's largest retailer -- sold 116,000 flags on the day of the terrorist attacks. That's about 20 times normal sales.

Stores around the nation are trying to keep up with demand.

History of the American Flag

The American flag has changed designs more than any other flag in the world. The first flag, called the Grand Union, was first flown at the headquarters of the Continental Army on January 1, 1776. Betsy Ross, a seamstress, is said to have contributed to this design. She had an upholstery business which made flags for navy ships in Pennsylvania. A legend still persists that she showed George Washington how to make a five-pointed star, and suggested thirteen stars in a circle for the first flag. Her descendants claimed that she offered the design. Actually, she and George Washington never met. George Washington did design the Grand Union, but an often-quoted remark attributed to him might not be true: We take the stars from heaven, the red from our mother country, separate it by white in stripes, thus showing that we have separated from her...

Source: Flag Day Web site

Flag Etiquette

American Legion officials in Iowa say the flag should not be draped over the hood, top, sides or back of a vehicle, train or boat.

And when the flag is displayed on a car, the staff should be fixed firmly to the framework or clamped to the right fender.

Officials say that when a flag is raised for the first time of each day, it should be taken to the top of the flagpole before being lowered to half-staff.

The flag is also supposed to be displayed only from sunrise to sunset, and it can be displayed at night only if a light shines on it.

Below you can find more information listed as part of The Flag Code of The United States -- Public Law 94-344, July 7, 1976

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.

• 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.
• 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...for personnel of the Navy...when the church pennant may be flown above the flag.
• 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 a 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.
• 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.
• The flag of the United States of America, when it is displayed with another flag against a wall form 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.
• 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. (Only exception to * Note below)
• 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.

Churches, Auditoriums

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 clergy man'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 the right of the audience.

Half-Staff

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 of the United States, the Governor of that State, territory or possession may proclaim that the National flag may be flown at half-staff.

* NOTE: the U.S. flag should always be on its own right in relation to other flags on adjacent staffs -- to the left of the observer.

Screensavers, Wallpaper, Songs:

• Patriotic Songs
• Instrumental Patriotic Songs
• Lee Greenwood's 'God Bless The USA'
• Music Collection
• Patriotic Orchestra Songs
• Words of Patriotic Songs
• Patriotic Borders
• American Pride Screensavers
• Americana Screesavers
• Patriotic Pets
• Get The Statue Of Liberty
Note: If you would like to use any photo that you find as your computer's wallpaper, please right click and then select "set as wallpaper."

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