A grand old flag
A wave of patriotism has swept across the United States, and American flags are flying proudly. Our country’s colors seem to be everywhere waving in storefronts, hanging on porches, displayed in car windows. Every citizen should know the history of our Grand Old Flag and learn some basic guidelines for displaying the Stars and Stripes, which has been a symbol of our great nation for more than 200 years.
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.
State
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.
Group
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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 triva
n 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?
n 2. Which president made official provision for the arrangement of the stars?
n 3. Who was Elizabeth Griscom and what was her connection to the flag?
n 4. Who planted the first U.S. flag on the moon?
n 5. Is it ever appropriate to fly the flag upside down?
n 6. What is done with worn or outdated flags?
n 7. The American flag first flew over a foreign fort in what country?
n 8. A vexillologist is an expert in what?
n 9. “Shipwreck” Kelly (1885-1952) was famous for sitting for long periods of time. What did he have to do with flags?
n 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.
Flag facts
n Union or canton: The blue field in the upper left corner with the 50 stars.
n Field or ground: The 13 stripes. There are seven red and six white stripes; the top and bottom ones are red.
n Half-staff: Flying the flag to one-half the distance between the top and bottom of the staff.
n Half-mast: On ships and naval stations, flying the flag at half-staff.
n Fly: The width of a flag when viewed flying.
n Hoist: The height of a flag when viewed flying.
Folding the flag
The U.S. flag should be folded in a military fold and put
away when not in use. The procedure for folding the flag:
n Bring the four corners together lengthwise.
n Fold again lengthwise, forming one long strip.
n Beginning at the striped end, bring corner to flat edge.
n Keep folding in triangle pattern up to the stars end.
n When finished, the folded flag should resemble a triangle.
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