The Flag of the United States of America
The laws relating to the flag of the United States of America are found
in detail in the
United States Code. Title 4, Chapter 1 pertains to the flag
and seal, seat of Government,
and official territorial papers; Section 700,
Title 18, Chapter 33 pertains to desecration of
the flag and penalties; Title
36, Chapter 1 pertains to patriotic and national observances.
These laws
were supplemented by Executive Orders and Presidential Proclamations.
The United States Congress has created a 56-page booklet
entitled "Our Flag,"
on the
history of the U.S. Flag and its proper display. It is availalble at:
http://www.gpoaccess.gov/serialset/cdocuments/sd109-18/sd109-18.pdf
The Pinewoods Detachment strives to make all citizens aware of the correct procedures
for handling, displaying, and
rendering
honors to the Flag of the United States.
Presentation of the Flag.
Presentation of the flag during a ceremony should be preceded
by a brief talk
emphasizing
the importance of the occasion.
Following the presentation all present
should salute the
flag,
recite the pledge of allegiance, and sing the national anthem.
Conduct during playing of the "Star-Spangled Banner," our National Anthem.
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.
Pledging allegiance to the Flag of the United States.
All present, except those in uniform, should stand at attention facing the Flag with the
right
hand over the heart.
Men
who are wearing hats should remove the hat with their
right hand
and hold it at the left shoulder, so that
their hand is
positioned over the heart.
Persons in
uniform should remain silent, face the
flag, and render the military salute.
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."
There is currently legislation in the U.S. House (that has passed the U.S. Senate) that
will "prescribe members
of
the Armed Forces and veterans out of uniform may render
the
military
salute during hoisting, lowering, or
passing of
flag." We will post an update
as soon
as we see
further action on the legislation
Showing proper respect to the Flag.
The Flag should not be dipped to any person or thing. The Flag should never touch
anything
beneath it, such
as the ground
or the floor. The Flag itself should never be
used
as wearing
apparel, bedding, or drapery. The flag
should never be festooned,
drawn back,
nor up, in folds
but always allowed to fall free. Never fly the flag upside
down except as a
signal of distress in
instances of extreme danger to life or property.
Raising and lowering the Flag.
The flag should be raised briskly and lowered slowly and ceremoniously. The flag of
the
United States of America
is
saluted as it is hoisted and lowered. The salute is held
until the
flag
is unsnapped from the halyard or through the
last
note of music, whichever
is the longest.
Flying the Flag at night.
It is customary to display the Flag only from sunrise to sunset on buildings and on
flagstaffs.
The Flag may be
displayed 24 hours a day if it is properly illuminated during
the hours of
darkness. "Proper illumination" means
having a light source sufficient to
light up the flag so
it is
recognized
by the casual observer.
Flying the Flag during rain or other inclement weather.
The Flag should not be displayed on days when the weather is inclement, except when
an
all-weather
Flag
made of nylon or
other non-absorbent material is used.
Displaying or flying other flags with the Flag of the United States.
Other flags should not be placed in a position above or in superior prominence to the
Flag
of the
United
States. The flag of the United States 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. However,
flags of other nations may
be displayed at the
same height as the
Flag of the United
States, in accordance
with
international rules.
Displaying the Flag other than from a staff.
The Flag should be displayed vertically and suspended so that its folds will fall free
as
though it
was placed
on a
staff. The stripes may be displayed either horizontally
or vertically
against a wall
or in a window. In such
a case, the
union (the stars on a
blue field) should be
uppermost and to the
observer's left. 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 the 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.
Positioning the Flag on a speaker's platform or in a public meeting place.
On a speaker's platform, the Flag should be displayed above and behind the speaker.
When
displayed
at the
front of a
public auditorium or meeting room, the Flag should be
placed
prominently
in front of the
audience.
It should be placed at
the speaker's right
side as the
speaker faces the audience;
any other flag
should be
placed to the left of
the speaker
(the
audience's right). The flag should not be
used as a drapery,
or for
covering
a speaker's
desk, draping a platform, or for
any decoration in
general.
Bunting of blue,
white and red
stripes is
available for these purposes. The blue stripe
of the
bunting should be on the top.
Flying the Flag at half staff.
The half-staffed Flag is a sign that the nation mourns the death of a person or persons.
Only
the
President
of the
United States or the Governor of a state may order the Flag
to be half
staffed.
On
Memorial Day,
the Flag is also
half
staffed from sunrise to noon
and then raised
to full staff
from noon
until sunset. A state
flag or other flag should
be
lowered or removed
when the Flag of
the United States
is at half staff. To place
the
flag at half staff, hoist it to
the
peak for an instant
and lower it to a position
half way
between the top and
bottom of the staff.
The flag is to be
raised
again to the peak
for a moment
before it is lowered.
Wearing a Flag patch on a jacket.
Only members of the military, firefighters, police officers, or patriotic organizations may
wear
a
Flag
patch
on their
uniform.
Use of a Flag patch on costumes, athletic clothing,
or casual
wear is
inappropriate. To wear our country's flag properly, the field of stars is
worn closest to
your heart. Further, when worn on the sleeve of a military uniform, the
flag should appear to
be advancing and not retreating. Thus, if your patch is to be worn
on your LEFT sleeve, use
a left flag (normal). For patches worn on your RIGHT sleeve,
use a "right" or "reversed field" flag.
Folding the Flag.
1. Two persons, facing each other, hold the flag waist high and horizontally
between them.
2. The lower striped section is folded, lengthwise, over the blue field.
Hold bottom to
top
and
edges together securely.
3. Fold the flag again, lengthwise, folded edge to open edge.
4. A triangular fold is started along the length of the flag, from the end
to the heading
by
bringing
the striped corner of the folded edge to meet
the open edge.
5. The outer point is turned inward parallel with the open edge, forming
a second triangle.
6. Repeat the triangular folding until the entire length of the flag is
folded.
7. When the flag is completely folded only the triangular blue field
should be visible.
Sizes of Flags.
The size of the flag is determined by the exposed height of
the flagpole from which it
is
flying.
The only consideration
is for the flag to be in proper proportion to its pole.
Flags
which fly from
angled poles on homes and those which are displayed on
standing
poles in
offices and other indoor
displays are usually either 3’
x 5’ or 4’ x 6’. Color
guards usually
carry flags measuring 4’ x 6’.
Other
recommended sizes follow:
| FLAGPOLE HEIGHT (FT.) | FLAG SIZE (FT.) |
| 20 | 4 x 6 |
| 25 | 5 x 8 |
| 40 | 6 x 10 |
| 50 | 8 x 12 |
| 60 | 10 x 15 |
| 70 | 12 x 18 |
| 90 | 15 x 25 |
| 125 | 20 x 30 |
| 200 | 30 x 40 |
| 250 | 40 x 50 |
Obtaining a Burial Flag for a Veteran.
Any honorably discharged veteran is entitled to a burial flag.
The funeral director, as
part of
the
services, will make the
necessary arrangements for the family on behalf of
the veteran.
The
flag may be used to cover the casket and it is presented to the family
as a keepsake. The local
office of the Department of Veterans’ Affairs
can also provide
information on the procedure for
obtaining a flag for a
deceased veteran as well as
local Veteran's Service Officers.
Cleaning a soiled flag and disposing of a worn flag.
A Flag may be washed or dry cleaned, dependent on the type of material. When a Flag
has
served
its
useful purpose,
it
should be destroyed, preferably by burning. Patriotic
organizations,
such as the
American
Legion, the Veterans
of
Foreign Wars, and the
Marine Corps League can
provide training
on holding a proper
Flag disposal ceremony.
Where to fly the flag.
The flag should be displayed daily on or near the main administration
building of
every public institution.
The flag should be displayed in or near every polling place
on
election days.
The flag should be displayed during school days in or near every
schoolhouse.
Vehicles.
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.
When to fly the flag.
The flag can be flown every day from sunrise to sunset and at night if illuminated properly.
Designated flag display days are:
| New Year's Day | January 1st |
| Inauguration Day | January 20th |
| Lincoln's Birthday | February 12th |
| Washington's Birthday (President's Day) | 3rd Monday in February |
| Easter Sunday | variable |
| Mother's Day | 2nd Sunday in May |
| Peace Officers Memorial Day (half-staff) | May 15th |
| Armed Forces Day | 3rd Saturday in May |
| Memorial Day (half-staff until noon) | Last Monday in May |
| Flag Day | June 14th |
| Independence Day | July 4th |
| Labor Day | First Monday in September |
| Patriot Day (half-staff) | September 11th |
| POW/MIA Recognition Day | 3rd Friday in September |
| Constitution Day (Citizenship Day) | September 17th |
| Columbus Day | 2nd Monday in October |
| Navy Day | October 27th |
| Veterans Day | November 11th |
| Thanksgiving Day | 4th Thursday in November |
| National Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day (half-staff) | December 7th |
| Christmas Day | December 25th |
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.
Owing a U.S. or Texas State Flag.
If you wish to own a U.S. Flag which has flown over the U.S. Capitol, follow this link
to contact
U.S. Senator
Kay Bailey Hutchison.
If you wish to own a Texas State Flag which has flown over the State Capitol in Austin,
contact
either
State Representative Wayne Christian or the Sergeant At Arms Office of
the Texas House
of
Representatives
at the following addresses:
Representative Wayne Christian
204 Houston
Center, TX 75935
(936) 598-7580
(936) 564-0051 Fax
Sergeant at Arms
Texas House of Representatives
P.O. Box 2910
Austin, TX 78768-2910
512-463-0910
The words of the “The Star-Spangled Banner”
by Francis Scott Key, September 1814.
(Sung to the tune “To Anacreon in Heaven”)
“0 say! can you see, by the dawn’s early light,
What so proudly we hail’d at the twilight’s last gleaming?
Whose broad stripes and bright stars, thro’ the perilous fight,
O’er the ramparts we watched were so gallantly streaming?
And the rockets’ red glare, the bombs bursting in air,
gave proof thro’ the night that our flag was still there.
0 say! does that Star-Spangled Banner yet wave
0’er the land of the free and the home of the brave?
“On the shore, dimly seen thro’ the mist of the deep,
Where the foe’s haughty host in dread silence reposes,
What is that which the breeze, o’er the towering steep,
As it fitfully blows, half conceals, half discloses?
Now it catches the gleam of the morning’s first beam,
In full glory reflected now shines in the stream.
‘Tis the Star-Spangled Banner. 0 long may it wave
O’er the land of the free and the home of the brave.
“And where is that band who so vauntingly swore,
That the havoc of war and the battle’s confusion
A home and a country should leave us no more?
Their blood has wash’d out their foul footstep’s pollution.
No refuge could save the hireling and slave
From the terror of flight or the gloom of the grave,
And the Star-Spangled Banner in triumph doth wave
0’er the land of the free and the home of the brave.
“O thus be it ever when freemen shall stand
Between their lov’d home and war’s desolation,
Blest with vict’ry and peace, may the Heav’n-rescued land
Praise the pow’r that hath made and preserv’d us a nation.
Then conquer we must, when our cause it is just,
And this be our motto, ‘In God is Our Trust.’
And the Star-Spangled Banner in triumph shall wave
O’er the land of the free and the home of the brave.”