When do you display an american flag

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 death of a member of the Armed Forces from any State, territory, or possession who dies while serving on active duty, or the death of a first responder working in any State, territory, or possession who dies while serving in the line of duty, the Governor of that State, territory, or possession may proclaim that the National flag shall be flown at half-staff, and the same authority is provided to the Mayor of the District of Columbia with respect to present or former officials of the District of Columbia, members of the Armed Forces from the District of Columbia, and first responders working in the District of Columbia.

When the Governor of a State, territory, or possession, or the Mayor of the District of Columbia, issues a proclamation under the preceding sentence that the National flag be flown at half-staff in that State, territory, or possession or in the District of Columbia because of the death of a member of the Armed Forces, the National flag flown at any Federal installation or facility in the area covered by that proclamation shall be flown at half-staff consistent with that proclamation.

The flag shall be flown at half-staff 30 days from the death of the President or a former President; 10 days from the day of death of the Vice President, the Chief Justice or a retired Chief Justice of the United States, or the Speaker of the House of Representatives; from the day of death until interment of an Associate Justice of the Supreme Court, a Secretary of an executive or military department, a former Vice President, or the Governor of a State, territory, or possession; and on the day of death and the following day for a Member of Congress.

As used in this subsection -. The flag should not be lowered into the grave or allowed to touch the ground. If the building has more than one main entrance, the flag should be suspended vertically near the center of the corridor or lobby with the union to the north, when entrances are to the east and west or to the east when entrances are to the north and south. If there are entrances in more than two directions, the union should be to the east.

No disrespect should be shown to the flag of the United States of America; the flag should not be dipped to any person or thing. Regimental colors, State flags, and organization or institutional flags are to be dipped as a mark of honor. It should never be festooned, drawn back, nor up, in folds, but always allowed to fall free. Bunting of blue, white, and red always arranged with the blue above, the white in the middle, and the red below, should be used for covering a speaker's desk, draping the front of the platform, and for decoration in general.

It should not be embroidered on such articles as cushions or handkerchiefs and the like, printed or otherwise impressed on paper napkin or boxes or anything that is designed for temporary use and discard. Advertising signs should not be fastened to a staff or halyard from which the flag is flown. However, a flag patch may be affixed to the uniform of military personnel, firemen, policemen, and members of patriotic organizations. The flag represents a living country and is itself considered a living thing.

Therefore, the lapel flag pin being a replica, should be worn on the left lapel near the heart. Ceremonial When hung over a sidewalk on a rope extending from a building, the stars are always away from the building. When the flag is hung over a street running east to west, the stars are always toward the north. When the flag is hung over a street running north to south, the stars are always toward the east. When a group of flags is being displayed, the U.

The only exception is when the flag of another nation is being flown? When covering a casket, the stars should be at the head and over the left shoulder. The flag should never touch the ground or be lowered into the grave. 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. Government 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. To order a U.

According to U. Flag Code , a worn out American flag should be destroyed in a dignified way, preferably by burning. The United States flag flies at half-staff or half-mast when the nation or a state is in mourning. The president, through a presidential proclamation , a state governor, or the mayor of the District of Columbia can order flags to fly at half-staff.

Most often, this is done to mark the death of a government official, military member, or first responder; in honor of Memorial Day or other national day of remembrance; or following a national tragedy. Learn more from the Department of Veterans Affairs about the rules and traditions for flying the flag at half-staff. Ask a real person any government-related question for free.

What should be the position of the flag when displayed from a staff in a church, public auditorium or other public meeting place, whether indoors or outdoors, on platform, or on the floor at ground level? Prior to the Flag Code changes in , the display procedure was somewhat different. There are currently no penalties for the physical desecration of the flag. The American Legion and other members of the Citizens Flag Alliance continue working toward securing a constitutional amendment to protect the flag from physical desecration.

Skip to main content. Can a flag that has covered a casket be displayed after its original use? Can the U. What is the significance of displaying the flag at half-staff? When the flag is not flown from a staff, how should it be displayed? How are unserviceable flags destroyed?