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A Guide to Flag Etiquette

Happy Flag Day! Today, Friday, June 14, Flag Day is celebrated in the United States. Flag Day commemorates the adoption of the American flag June 14, 1777. Though not an official holiday, celebrating the day when the Continental Congress adopted the Stars and Stripes has been a long and honored tradition for most U.S. citizens. Parades and parties are planned, and across the country you’ll see the American flag displayed proudly outside of homes and businesses.

With the day fast approaching, I thought this might be a good time to take a look at the rules for respectfully displaying the American flag. The Flag Code—the official rules for displaying the flag–covers all kinds of specific situations, but are governed by one basic principle: the flag is one of the most visible and important symbols of the country and should be treated with respect.

Some general flag etiquette guidelines include:

• When displaying the flag outdoors, 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.
• The flag, when carried in a procession with another flag or flags, should be either on the marching right, or, if there is a line of other flags, in front of the center of that line.
• The flag should not be draped over the hood, top, sides, or back of a car. If flag is displayed on a car, it is to be firmly attached to the chassis.
• No part of the flag should touch the ground. When lowered from a staff, it must be held and then neatly folded and stored.
• The flag code allows for flying the flag upside down only “as a signal of dire distress in instances of extreme danger to life or property.”

Wondering how to properly fold a flag? Here’s a great visual that walks you through the steps.

Happy Flag Day to all of my American friends!

Posted by Margaret in Everyday Etiquette and tagged flag day.