Understand Flag Code

• TASK: Understand flag code in order to show respect to the symbol of the country in which we live.
• CONDITIONS: Given that you live in the United States of America and want to display a flag somewhere on your property.
• STANDARD: You must be able to display and care for the flag according to United States Flag Code contained in 4 U.S.C. 1 and 36 U.S.C. 3.

Flying the flag is something that I’ve done my whole life. My family has always been patriotic and it’s become a part of our family heritage. When I was a boy, we had a family flag that would fly on special occasions, but over time those occasions would simply come and go and the flag would stay wrapped up in the corner of a closet. When I moved off to college, I took the flag with me and hung it on the wall in my dorm room and apartment. When I deployed to Baghdad, I took that flag with and hung it in my hooch and carried it with me whenever I went on a convoy.

Over the years, that flag became tattered and wind blown, but I couldn’t bring myself to retire it. I also couldn’t bring myself to fly it anymore since it had started to come apart. By this time, I had one son and another on the way and I began to think about when my boys grew up and moved out on their own. I wanted to give them the option to take a family flag with them as well so I decided that I would save my flag and start flying a new one. Over time, that flag would show signs of wear and I could take it down, fold and store it, and fly a new flag. By the time that my kids were ready to move out on their own, I should have several flags that they can choose from to take with them on their journey through life.

The Flag
The flag of the USA is composed of two main sections, the stars and the stripes. The stars are 50 five-pointed white stars (one star for each state) arranged in five rows with six stars each and four rows of five stars each spaced evenly on a field of blue. The stars and the field of blue is called the Union. The stripes are 13 alternating horizontal red and white stripes (one for each of the original 13 colonies).

Displaying the Flag
US Flag Code goes into great detail about the correct way to fly the flag in a variety of situations. Historically, there have been penalties associated with incorrectly displaying or desecrating the flag, but those penalties have since been deemed unconstitutional and are no longer enforceable.

Generally speaking, any person flying the flag is likely doing so out of a sense of national pride and intends to pay respect to the flag and the country. If someone is displaying the flag incorrectly and you feel it’s appropriate to inform them of it, it’s best to do so privately in a way that acknowledges their good intent and your desire to inform them and let them choose to correct the error.

From a Staff or Pole
When flown from a staff or pole, the Union should always be upright. Only in times of emergency should the flag be flown upside-down. The flag may be flown at half staff at the direction of the President, the governor of the state, or by any person as a sign of mourning. When flown at half-staff, the flag is first raised to the top of the staff and then lowered to half-staff.

When lowering a flag flown from a pole at half-staff, it’s appropriate to first raise it to the top of the staff and then lower it down to be removed, folded, and stored respectfully.

Against a Wall or Building
When hung horizontally on a wall, the Union should be on the left when viewed from the front. When hung vertically, the Union should also remain on the left when viewed from the front. Another way of thinking about it is that if the flag were a person, the Union should always be over that person’s right shoulder.

Occasion for Display
It’s appropriate to display the flag every day from sunrise to sunset or during hours of darkness as long as there is a light shining on the flag. It is acceptable to fly the flag year round or only to observe special holidays. Some of those holidays include:

• January 1st, New Year's Day
• January 20th, Martin Luther King Jr. Day
• The third Monday of February, President’s Day
• Easter Sunday
• The third Saturday of May, Armed Forces Day
• The last Monday of May, Memorial Day
• June 14th, Flag Day and the Army Birthday
• July 4th, Independence Day
• The first Monday in September, Labor Day
• The last Sunday in September, Gold Star Mother’s Day
• October 27th, Navy Day
• November 11th, Veteran’s Day
• The fourth Thursday in November, Thanksgiving
• December 25th, Christmas Day

Folding the Flag
Folding the flag is done best with two people. To fold the flag, hold it by the corners about waist high. Fold it length-wise twice so that the Union is on the outside of the folds. Beginning with the end of the flag opposite the Union, fold one corner up and over to the other side so that a triangular point is formed. Continue folding the triangle in alternating directions until there is too little material left to complete another fold. Tuck this remaining material into the folded section of the flag and smooth it out.

A Reversed Flag
You may have noticed that on some military uniforms, the flag worn on the right shoulder is reversed so that the Union is on the right. The reason for this is that the flag is worn on the service member’s right arm and when that is done, the Union should face forward as it is being carried into battle.

Imagine long ago when armies lined up for battle under the flag of their country. When marching towards the enemy, the flag would be streaming overhead and the stars would be leading the way. This same principal is why flags on United States military uniforms have the Union reversed.