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American Flag Education and Exchange Program

In honor of Veterans Day, now is an excellent opportunity to learn about our American Flag and the rules and recommendations to appropriately display our nation’s symbol of freedom.

Moraine Park is committed to our military-connected individuals. This year, we would like to honor its employees who have served by exchanging or providing an initial 3×5 outdoor flag of their own.

Design

The United States American flag has 13 alternating horizontal stripes—7 red and 6 white, and a union (the blue field) that consists of white 5-pointed stars equaling the number of states in the Union. According to custom and tradition, white signifies purity and innocence; red signifies hardiness and valor; and blue signifies vigilance, perseverance, and justice.

Public Law 94-344, known as the Federal Flag Code, contains rules for handling and displaying the U.S. flag and the language within the federal code clarifies that the flag is a living symbol, so the following are some guidelines to displaying, folding, and disposing of our nation’s flag.

Occasions and Display Basics

The universal custom is to display the flag only from sunrise to sunset on buildings and stationary flagstaffs in the open. However, when a patriotic effect is desired, a flag may be displayed twenty-four hours a day if properly illuminated during darkness. When possible, the flag should not be displayed on days when the weather is inclement unless an all-weather flag is used.
If you choose not to display your flag regularly, here is a list of some of the occasions considered appropriate to fly the U.S. flag –

New Year’s Day, Lincoln’s Birthday, Washington’s Birthday, Armed Forces Day, Memorial Day (half-staff until noon), Flag Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Veterans Day, Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Day, and any other days which may be proclaimed by the President of the United States.

When the flag is displayed from a staff projecting horizontally or at an angle from a window sill, balcony, or front porch, the Union or stars should be placed at the staff’s peak, unless the flag is at half-staff. If the flag is hung over the middle of the street, it should be suspended vertically with the Union to the north in an east and west street or to the east in a north and south street.

American flag hung over street
The flag hung over the middle of the street
American flag from window sill
Flag from a window sill, balcony, or front porch

 

When displayed on a speaker’s platform, the flag, if displayed flat, should be displayed above and behind the speaker; when displayed from a staff, the flag should be at a position of honor at the speaker’s right as they face the audience with no other flags. Finally, if the flag is displayed on a wall, either horizontally or vertically, the Union should be uppermost and to the flag’s right, or that is, to the observer’s left. The same is appropriate when the flag is displayed in a window, with the blue field to an observer’s left in the street.

American flag on speaker platform
Flag flat on a speaker’s platform

 

American flag displayed on wall
Flag displayed on a wall

 

American flag at a position of honor
Flag at a position of honor at the speaker’s right as they face an audience

Things NOT to do with the American flag:

• The flag should never be carried flat or horizontally but always aloft and free.
• The flag should never be used as clothing, bedding, or drapery.
• The flag should never be part of a uniform, but a flag patch or lapel pin can be part of a police or other uniform.
• The flag should not be used to cover a statue or monument.
• The flag should not be used to cover a ceiling.
• Advertising banners should not be hung from the same staff as a flag.
• The flag should never be used as a decoration. Instead, bunting with blue on top, white, and red is the appropriate patriotic display option.

Flag Disposal

You may often contact your local VFW or American Legion Post, the Girl Scouts, or Boy Scouts of America if you would like assistance with proper flag disposal. Otherwise, a fire must be relatively large and of sufficient intensity to ensure the complete burning of the flag. Note: Make sure you are conforming to local/state fire codes or ordinances.

  1. Place the flag on the fire.
  2. Individual(s) can come to attention, salute the flag, recite the Pledge of Allegiance and have a brief period of silent reflection.
  3. After the flag is completely consumed and the fire has been safely extinguished, the ashes should be buried.

Correct Method of Folding the U.S. Flag

Step 1. When Available, two persons, facing each other, hold the flag waist high and horizontally between them.
Step 2. The lower striped section is folded, lengthwise, over the blue field. Hold bottom to top and edges together securely.
Step 3. Fold the flag again, lengthwise, folded edge to open edge.
Step 4. A triangular fold is started along the flag’s length, from the end to the heading, by bringing the striped corner of the folded edge to meet the open edge.

 

Step 5. The outer point is turned inward parallel with the open edge, forming a second triangle.
Step 6. Repeat the triangular folding until the entire length of the flag is folded.

 

Step 7. When the flag is completely folded, only the triangular blue field should be visible.

Caring for Your Flag

The life of your flag depends on your care. Dirt can cut fabrics, dull colors, and cause wear, but damaged flags can be repaired and utilized as long as the overall dimensions are not noticeably altered. Most outdoor flags can be washed in mild detergent and thoroughly rinsed, and indoor and parade flags should be dry-cleaned only, and many dry cleaners offer free cleaning of U.S. flags during June and July. Store your flags in a well-ventilated area away from any harsh chemicals or cleaning compounds, and if your flag gets wet, never store it until it is completely dry. Wet folds cause permanent creases, and dampness ruins fabric and causes mildew.

To obtain more details about our nation’s flag, or receive a pdf copy of “Our Flag,” the complete guide to the U.S. Flag, please send your request to spepper1@morainepark.edu

November 11th, 2021by MPTC Communications