Related Pages:
Title 4, Chapter 1, The US Flag Code
Executive Order 10834
American Revolution Flags
The flag above, commonly know as the "Betsy Ross Flag" was adopted June 14, 1777 which has become recognized as "Flag Day". The Continental Congress on this day resolved, "That the flag of the United States be thirteen stripes alternating red and white; that the Union be thirteen stars, white in a blue field, representing a new constellation". The circular design is atributed to George Washington, Francis Hopkins and Betsy Ross. The Congress did not specify an arrangement for the stars in the canton until 1912, resulting in many variations and arrangements..
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All of the illustrations and descriptions (except for the Betsy Ross Flag) on this page are extracted from the above 1942 US Army Recruitment Service poster. The original poster is part of Nick Snider's personal collection and was on display at The National Museum of Patriotism. Earlier the Museum had the original professionally reproduced and copies of the reproduced poster were made available to every Georgia Public School as well as many private schools.
Addition Information Extracted as Presented By The Poster
"Organizations or individuals may, of course, display, in a proper manner, the Flag of the United States of America either daily or as often as desired. The following days, and other appropriate local or national public or historical occasions of a military, civil or religious nature, may be considered appropriate:
New Year's Day, January 1
Lincoln's Birthday, February 12
Washington's Birthday, February 22
Easter Sunday (variable)
Jefferson's Birthday, April 13
Mother's Day, (second Sunday in May)
National Maritime Day, May 22
Memorial Day, May 30
Flag Day, June 14
Independence Day, July 4
Labor Day, (first Monday in September)
Gold Star Mother's Day, (last Sunday in September)
Columbus Day, October 12
Armistice Day, November 11
Thanksgiving Day, (a Thursday in November)
Christmas Day, December 25
(Editors Note: The current recommended list is contained in Title 4, Chapter 1, Section 6 of the US Code. Seee link in the Related Menu above.)
Attempts to "improve" the appearance of the National Flag by other methods of display, such as fastening it into a rosette or using it as draping, lack the respect due this symbol of our country.
Whether indooors or out, the Flag should not be festooned over doorways or arches, tied in a bow-knot, or other wise employed in a purely decorative manner. For these purposes, bunting of the national colors is more appropriate and, since the blue union is the Flag's honor point, the bunting should be arranged with that color uppermost.
At unveiling ceremonies the National Flag should form a distinctive feature of the program, but should not be used as a covering for the statue.
The use of the Flag for athletic uniforms, handkerchiefs, napkins, or other purposes lacking in dignity and respect, while not strictly a violation of law, is offensive to persons of patric feeling.
When the Flag becomes soiled, if may be laundered with propriety. This is best done in one's own home."
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(Comment and Observation: The top image of the Army color-guard is really over-stylized. Military color guards carry the colors in as near a completely vertical position as possible. The "organizational" colors and never the National Colors (US Flag) are dipped only at "Present Arms" (salute) and when passing the reviewing stand/party in a parade or review.)
The United States Flag - How To Display and Render Honors
Figure 1 - Same Halyard
When flags of states or cities or pennants of societies are flown on the same halyard with the Flag of the United States of America, the latter should always be at the peak. When flown from adjacent staffs the Flag of the United States of America should be hoisted first and lowered last.
Figure 2 - Crossed Staffs
When displayed with another flag against a wall from crossed staffs, the Flag of the United States of America should be on the right (the Flag's own right), and its staff should be in front of the staff of the other flag.
Figure 3 - Over Street
When it is desired to display the Flag over the center of a public thoroughfare, it should be suspended vertically with the union to the north in an east and west street, and to the east in a north and shouth street.
Figure 4 - Over Sidewalk
When the Flag is suspended over a sidewalk from a rope, extending from a house to a pole at the edge of the sidewald, the Flag should be hoisted out from the building, towards the pole, union first.
Figure 5 - Two or More Nations
When flags of two or more nations are displayed together they should be flown from separate staff of the same height and the flags should be of approximately equal size, International usage forbids the display of the flag of one nation above that of another nation in time of peace.
Figure 6 - In Church
When the Flag is displayed in the body of the church it should be from a staff placed in the position of honor at the congregation's right as they face the clergyman. The service flag, the state flag or other flag should be at the left of the congregation. If in the chancel or on the platform, the Flag of the United States of America should be placed on the clergyman's right as he faces the congregation and the other flags at his left.
Figure 7 - Display Other Than On A Staff
When the Flag is displayed in a manner other than by being flown from a staff, it should be displayed flat, whether indoors or out. When displayed either horizontally or vertically against a wall, the union should be uppermost and to the Flag's own right, that is, to the observer's left.
When displayed in a window to be visible from the street, it should be shown in the same way, that is, with the union or blue field to the left of the oberver in the street. When festoons, rosettes or drapings are desired, bunting of blue, white and red should be used, but never the Flag.
Figure 8 - Grouped Cluster Display
Whenever a number of flags of states or cities or pennants of societies are to be arranged in a group and displayed from staffs with the Flag of the United States of America, the latter should be placed at the center of that group and on a staff slightly higher than any of the others.
Figure 9 - Bunting
When used on a speaker's platform, whether indoors or out, the Flag should never be reduced to the role of a mere decoration by being tied into knots or draped over the stand. For this purpose bunting should be used. The Flag, if displayed, should be either on a staff or secured to the wall or back curtain behind the speaker in the manner prescribed, that is, with the union to the Flag's right.
Figure 10 - Memorial Day
When it is to be flown at half-staff, the Flag should be hoisted to the peak for an instant and then lowered to the half-staff position; but before lowering the Flag for the day it should be again raised to the peak. By half-staff is meant hauling down the Flag to one-half the distance between the top and the bottom of the staff. If local conditions require, divergence from this position is permissible. On Memorial Day (May 30th) the Flag is displayed at half-staff from sunrise until 12:00 o'clock noon out of respect for those who have died for it, and at full-staff from noon until sunset; for the Nation lives and Flag is the symbol of the Living Nation.
Figure 11- From (Side) Building
When the Flag is displayed from a staff projecting horizontally or at an angle from the window sill, balcony or front of a building, the union of the flag should to to the peak of the (unless the Flag is to be displayed at half-staff, in which cased it is raised and lowered as described for Figure 10).
Figure 12 - Marching Right
When carried in a procession with another flag, the Flag of the United States of America should be on the marching right.
Figure 13 - Marching Center or Right
Whenever the Flag of the United States of America is carried in a procession in company with other flags, it should occupy a position in front of the center of the line of flags or on the right of the marching line.
Figure 14 - Conduct During Ceremony
During the ceremony of hoistibng or lowering the Flag, or when the Flag is passing in a parade or in a review, all persons present should face the Flag, stand at attention and salute. Those present in uniform should render the right hand salute. Those men not in uniform should remove their head dress with the right hand and hold it at the left shoulder, the hand being over the heart. Women should salute by placing the right hand over the heart. The salute to the Flag in a moving column is rendered as the Flag approaches the spectator and is held until it has passed.