Grand old Flag Customs

[USMCRET6391]

Charlotte Observer
June 14, 2005

A Grand old flag custom suggests the U.S. flag be displayed only from sunrise to sunset unless it is illuminated. The flag should be hoisted briskly and lowered ceremoniously. It should not be allowed to touch the ground.

Old Glory has been our nation's symbol for more than two centuries. The country's colors fly everywhere, high above the Capitol dome and on front porches along suburban streets. Today is Flag Day. Here's some history of the Stars and Stripes and the basics for properly displaying the American flag.

SOURCES: Flag House Association, Smithsonian Institution, www.ushistory.org, World Book Encyclopedia, www.ctssar.org

Displaying the Stars and Stripes

Custom suggests the U.S. flag be displayed only from sunrise to sunset unless it is illuminated. The flag should be hoisted briskly and lowered ceremoniously. It should not be allowed to touch the ground.



WALL

The flag can be displayed vertically or horizontally; the stars should be at the top of the flag on the observer's left.

PODIUM

The flag should be placed to right of a speaker or staging area; other flags should be placed to the left.

STREET

When a flag is suspended across a street, it should hang vertically with the stars to the north or the east.

HALF-STAFF

Flown at half-staff during national mourning, the flag should be hoisted to the top of the flagpole for a moment, then lowered to half-staff. The flag should be raised to the top of pole before lowering at end of the day.

WITH STATE FLAGS

The U.S. flag flies at the center and highest point of a group when flags of states, localities or societies are grouped for display.

WITH OTHER NATIONS' FLAGS

When the U.S. flag is flown with other national flags, they should be of equal size and flown on separate staffs of the same height. International law forbids a nation's flag to be flown above any other nation's in peacetime. Test Your Knowledge

Try answering these questions about Old Glory.

** 1. Francis Scott Key wrote the words to "The Star-Spangled Banner" on the back of an envelope. What is the source of the music for the song?

** 2. Which president made official provision for the arrangement of the stars?

** 3. Who was Elizabeth Griscom and what was her connection to the flag?

** 4. Who planted the first U.S. flag on the moon?

** 5. Is it ever appropriate to fly the flag upside down?

** 6. What is done with worn or outdated flags?

** 7. The American flag first flew over a foreign fort in what country?

** 8. A vexillologist is an expert in what?

** 9. "Shipwreck" Kelly (1885-1952) was famous for sitting for long periods of time. What did he have to do with flags?

** 10. The United States has one of the oldest national flags. Which countries have older flags?



ANSWERS

A true patriot scores at least seven right. A score between four and seven means it's time to read up on Old Glory. If you scored below four, you might want to head back to civics class.

** 1. The music is from an English drinking song called "To Anacreon in Heaven."

** 2. In 1912, President William Taft ordered that there be six rows of eight stars, with each star pointing upward. Previously the arrangement of the stars had been left to the flagmaker's fancy.

** 3. Elizabeth Griscom, also known as Betsy, eloped with John Ross in November 1773. Betsy Ross, of course, sewed the first American flag.

** 4. Neil Armstrong, on July 20, 1969.

** 5. Yes, but only in an emergency to alert others you're in need of help.

** 6. Flags are used until they are worn out and then they are destroyed, preferably by burning.

** 7. Libya , over Fort Derne, on the shores of Tripoli.

** 8. The history of flags.

** 9. "Shipwreck" Kelly set many flagpole-sitting records. He sat for 49 days on one flagpole.

** 10. Austria, Denmark, Great Britain, Netherlands, Sweden and Switzerland.

The U.S. flag should be folded in a military fold and put away when not in use. The procedure for folding the flag:

** Bring the four corners together lengthwise.

** Fold again lengthwise, forming one long strip.

** Beginning at the striped end, bring corner to flat edge.

** Keep folding in triangle pattern up to the stars' end.

** When finished, the folded flag should resemble a triangle.

[Thomas41]

i agree it should not beable totouch the ground at all.

[Turtledrive]

Glad you posted that. I usually have trivia questions for my guys and those are good ones.

[Ani1950]

Our local VFW has a yearly drive to collect worn and tattered flags from the community. They have a ceremony to officially bury them in a place designated as hallowed ground. Flags should never be summarily discarded in the trash but given a proper burial.

[SpongeJuan]

I thought that they were burned and not burried because the dirt would touch it.

BTW, when I was in NAS Meridian, Mississippi the Marines were in charge of doing evening colors. When it was my turn to do it we waiting in the dead cold pooring rain so that I felt like I was in a cold pool. Water was soaking through my cover and water was going into my eyes. But I still stayed at attention. The 5 minute warning sounded, but after we stood there for a long time Colors never sounded. The SDO screamed out, "COLORS!!!!!!!!" (and he had a super loud voice) and we brought it down. While we marched back there was a sailor who was walking infront of us. We were wearing roadguard vests so that Cars walking by could see us since it was dark and we had to march down the street. The sailor just put her head down and pretended that she didn't see us. I felt a rush of anger go through my body, but I had to walk next to the flag.

[Ani1950]

You are correct to the burning and not touching the ground. A group of VFW members take it upon themselves to collect the flags and they are taken to the part of the cemetery (hallowed ground) that has been designated for the purpose of disposal. They are then burned not buried following a private ceremony. I apologize for the misunderstanding.

[Rusty24]

I would like to see so,me laws developed to enforce these simple standards.

I would also like to see a few added ..... but thats another topic.

[RetArmyMedic]

One custom that my grandfather (a WWII vet) taught me....when the color guard passes you (during a parade, etc). You stand up, remove any headgear (unless in uniform) and place your hand over your heart or stand at attention. Of course, if in uniform, you render a salute.

My grandfather only had to tell us once. After that, if you weren't standing before he was, you got popped in the back of the head. To this day, I think of him when I see the color guards. It irritates me to no end that others do not know this simple guesture for showing respect for our flag and those who have served to preserve her. I've literally chased an active duty soldier (in uniform) down the street and chastised him for lighting a cig while the color guard passed him in parade. What can I say, Im anal about such things.