MIRECC / CoE

U.S. Flag and Holidays

U.S. Flag and Holidays

Flying the U.S. flag is appropriate every day. The customary days to display the flag according to the Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) and the U.S. Army are as follows:

† Half-Staff until Sunset

‡ Half-Staff until Noon

Half-Staff

When the flag of the United States is displayed at Half-Staff, it is first hoisted to the top of the staff for an instant, then lowered to the Half-Staff position. The flag should again be raised to the top of the staff before it is lowered for the day.

The flag is in a Half-Staff position when it is any position below the top of the pole. Generally the position of the flag is at Half-Staff when the middle point of the hoist of the flag is halfway between the top of the staff and the foot.

The flag may be flown at Half-Staff to honor a newly deceased federal or state government official by order of the president or the governor, respectively.

On Memorial Day, the flag should be displayed at Half-staff until Noon. Whenever the flag is displayed at Half-Staff, it should be first raised to the top. Lowering from Half-Staff is preceded by first raising it momentarily to the top. Immediately before Noon, the band, if one is available, will play an appropriate musical selection, and at 1200 hours the national salute (21 guns) will be fired at all installations provided with the necessary equipment for firing salutes. At the conclusion of the salute, the flag will be hoisted to the top of the staff and will remain there until retreat.

While the flag of the United States is being lowered from the staff and folded, no portion of it should be allowed to touch the ground. The flag should be folded in the triangular shape of a cocked hat.

Independence Day

In commemoration of the Declaration of Independence, a salute to the Union (50 guns) will be fired at 1200 hours on Independence Day at all installations provided with the necessary equipment for firing salutes. When Independence Day falls on a Saturday, special ceremonies or salutes will take place on Saturday. When Independence Day occurs on a Sunday, commanders may authorize the special ceremonies or salutes take place on that day or the following day.

Military Funeral Honors

The National Defense Appropriations Act for Fiscal Year 2000 provides for the rendering of military funeral honors. Military funeral honors are a statutory entitlement. Eligible beneficiaries are Active-Duty Servicemembers, Retirees, Veterans (as defined by 38 USC 101), and deceased members and former members of the Selected Reserve (using the burial flag eligibility criteria in 38 USC 2301). Any person (Active, National Guard, or Reserve) who has completed at least one enlistment or other obligated military service and received an honorable discharge is eligible for Military Funeral Honors.

On a casket, the union (blue field) should be at the deceased person's head and heart, over the left shoulder. But the flag should be removed before the casket is lowered into the grave and should never touch the ground.

An American flag drapes the casket of deceased veterans to honor the memory of their service to their country. The ceremonial folding and presentation of that flag is a moving tribute of lasting importance to the Veteran’s family.

Funeral honors ceremonies conducted by the Department of Defense will use the following standardized language for the presentation of the flag to the designated flag recipient: "On behalf of the President of the United States, [the United States Army, the United States Marine Corps, the United States Navy or the United States Air Force] and a grateful nation, please accept this flag as a symbol of our appreciation for your loved one’s honorable and faithful service."

A funeral director making the presentation may use his or her own words or use the following language: "Please accept this flag as a symbol of our appreciation for your loved one’s honorable and faithful service."

The flag may cover a casket, but should not cover a statue or monument for unveiling. It should never be draped or drawn back in folds. Draped red, white and blue bunting should be used for decoration, with the blue at the top and red at the bottom.

During the ceremony of hoisting or lowering the flag or when the flag is passing in a parade or in review, all persons present in uniform should render the military salute. Servicemembers of the Armed Forces and Veterans who are present but not in uniform may render the military salute. All other persons present should face the flag and stand at attention with their right hand over the heart, or if applicable, remove their headdress with their right hand and hold it at the left shoulder, the hand being over the heart. Citizens of other countries present should stand at attention. All such conduct toward the flag in a moving column should be rendered at the moment the flag passes.

Important Things to Remember

Traditional guidelines call for displaying the flag in public only from sunrise to sunset. However, the flag may be displayed at all times if it's illuminated during darkness. The flag should not be subject to weather damage, so it should not be displayed during rain, snow and wind storms unless it is an all-weather flag.

When the flag hangs from a staff in a church or public place, it should appear to the audience on the left, the speaker's right. Any other flags displayed should be placed on the opposite side of the speaker.

It should be hoisted briskly and lowered ceremoniously.

It should be displayed often, but especially on national and state holidays and special occasions.

The flag should be displayed on or near the main building of public institutions, schools during school days, and polling places on election days.

When displayed over a street or sidewalk, where it can be seen from either side, be sure the union is to the north on an east-west street, and to the east on a north-south street. The same directions apply in a building lobby or corridor with entrances to the east and west or north and south.

When displayed against something, such as a wall, the union should be at the top and to the flag's own right, the observer's left - whether displayed horizontally or vertically.

When displayed flat against the wall on a speaker's platform, the flag should be above and behind the speaker with the union on the left side as the audience looks at it (again, the flag's right).

If the flag is suspended outdoors from a rope stretched from a building to a pole, the flag should be hoisted out from the building with the union first.

When displayed with another flag against a wall from crossed staffs, the U.S. flag should be on its own right (left to a person facing the wall) and its staff should be in front of the other flag's staff.

In a group of flags displayed from staffs, the U.S. flag should be at the center and the highest point.

When the flag is displayed other than from a staff, it should be flat or suspended so that it falls free.

When carried in procession with other flags, the U.S. flag should be either on the marching right (the flag's right) or to the front and center of the flag line.

When displayed on a float in a parade, the flag should be hung from a staff or suspended so it falls free. It should not be draped over a vehicle.

When flags of states, cities or organizations are flown on the same staff, the U.S. flag must be at the top (except during church services conducted at sea by Navy chaplains).

When other flags are flown from adjacent staffs, the U.S. flag should be hoisted first and lowered last. It must be on the right of other flags and no other flag should stand higher than it. Flags of other nations should be flown from separate staffs.

International custom dictates that flags of different nations be displayed at the same height in peacetime and be approximately the same size.

Guidelines for Displaying - Public Law 94-344

Flag Etiquette and Education

Public Law 94-344, known as the Federal Flag Code, contains rules for handling and displaying the U.S. Flag. While the federal code contains no penalties for misusing the flag, states have their own flag codes and may impose penalties. The language of the federal code makes clear that the flag is a living symbol. In response to a Supreme Court decision, which held that a state law prohibiting flag burning was unconstitutional, Congress enacted the Flag Protection Act in 1989. It provides that anyone who knowingly desecrates the flag may be fined and/or imprisoned for up to one year. However, this law was challenged by the Supreme Court in a 1990 decision that the Flag Protection Act violates the First Amendment free speech protections.

Out of respect for the U.S. flag, never:

• dip it for any person or thing, even though state flags, regimental colors and other flags may be dipped as a mark of honor.
• display it with the union down, except as a signal of distress.
• let the flag touch anything beneath it: ground, floor, water, merchandise.
• carry it horizontally, but always aloft.
• fasten or display it in a way that will permit it to be damaged or soiled.
• place anything on the flag, including letters, insignia, or designs of any kind.
• use it for holding anything.
• use it as wearing apparel, bedding or drapery. It should not be used on a costume or athletic uniform. However, a flag patch may be attached to the uniform of patriotic organizations, military personnel, police officers and firefighters.
• use the flag for advertising or promotion purposes or print it on paper napkins, boxes or anything else intended for temporary use and discard.

Disposal of Flag

When the flag is worn out or otherwise no longer a fitting emblem for display, it should be destroyed in a dignified way, preferably by burning.

1. The flag should be folded in its customary manner.
2. It is important that the fire be fairly large and of sufficient intensity to ensure complete burning of the flag.
3. Place the flag on the fire.
4. The individual(s) can come to attention, salute the flag, recite the Pledge of Allegiance and have a brief period of silent reflection.
5. After the flag is completely consumed, the fire should then be safely extinguished and the ashes buried.
6. Please make sure you are conforming to local/state fire codes or ordinances.

Proper flag disposal is one of the patriotic duties VFW Posts conduct nationwide. Please contact your local VFW Post if you'd like assistance or more information on proper flag disposal.

Order of Precedence

a. The flag of the United States
b. Foreign national flags (normally displayed in alphabetical order using the English alphabet
c. Flag of the President of the United States
d. State and territorial flags. Normally, state flags are displayed in order of admittance of the State to the Union. However, they may also be displayed in alphabetical order using the English alphabet. Territorial flags are displayed after the State flags either in the order they were recognized by the united States or alphabetically.
e. Military organizational flags of the Services in order of precedence

1. Cadets, United States Military Academy
2. Midshipmen, United States Naval Academy
3. Cadets, United States Air Force Academy
4. Cadets, United States Coast Guard Academy
5. Midshipmen, United States Merchant Marine Academy
6. United States Army
7. United States Marine Corps
8. United States Navy
9. United States Air Force
10. United States Space Force
11. United States Coast Guard
12. Army National Guard of the United States
13. Army Reserve
14. Marine Corps Reserve
15. Naval Reserve
16. Air National Guard of the United States
17. Air Force Reserve
18. Coast Guard Reserve
19. Other training organizations of the Army, Marine Corps, Navy, Air Force, and Coast Guard, in that order, respectively.

f. Military organizational flags within the service by echelon. The flag for the regimental corps will have precedence immediately before the regimental proponent’s command flag. The regimental corps flag will never have precedence above a MACOM flag.
g. Individual flags in order of rank.

1777 and beyond

1777 - Flag Resolution of June 14, 1777 states: "Resolved: that the flag of the United States be made of thirteen stripes, alternate red and white; that the union be thirteen stars, white in a blue field, representing a new Constellation."

1794 - Provided 15 stripes and 15 stars after May 1795. Act of January 13, 1794.

1818 - Provided 13 stripes and one star for each state, to be added to the flag on the 4th of July following the admission of each new state. Act of April 4, 1818.

1912 - Executive Order of President Taft dated June 24, 1912. Established proportions of the flag and provided for arrangement of the stars in six horizonatal rows of eight each, a single point of each star to be upward.

1959 - Executive Order of President Eisenhower dated January 3, 1959. Provided for the arrangement of the stars in seven rows of seven stars each, staggered horizontally and vertically.

1959 - Executive Order of President Eisenhower dated August 21, 1959. Provided for the arrangement of nine rows of stars staggered horizontally and eleven rows of stars staggered vertically.

Use and Display by Civilians

The U.S. and State flag should also be displayed on all National and State holidays, including historic and special occasions. Remember it is customary to display the flag only from sunrise to sunset. The U.S. and State flag may be displayed twenty-four hours with proper illumination. Use and display of the U.S. flag by civilians, civilian groups, and organizations are governed by 36 USC 173. Civilians who inquire about the display of the U.S. flag should be referred to this statute. They should be advised to consult the Attorney General of the State in which they reside or operate for information concerning State laws that apply to the U.S. flag.

1777 to Present
Number of Stars in the U.S. Flag and additional states represented

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Vet Centers provide counseling to make a successful transition from military to civilian life or after a traumatic event experienced in the military. Individual, group, marriage and family counseling is offered in addition to referral and connection to other VA or community benefits and services. If you can’t make it to a nearby Vet Center, VA offers satellite Vet Center locations and Mobile Vet Centers that may be closer to you.

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1. Veterans with a service-connected (SC) disability rated at 50% or more.
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3. Veterans seeking care for a SC disability only or under a special treatment authority.
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Hospital Service Directory

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