| Flag
Rules and Regulations |
How to Fold the Flag
Fold the
flag in half width-wise twice. Fold up a triangle, starting at the striped end
... and repeat ... until only the end of the union is exposed. Then fold down
the square into a triangle and tuck inside the folds.

How to Display the Flag
1. When the flag is displayed 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.
2. The flag of the United States of America, when it is
displayed with another flag against a wall from crossed staffs, should be on the
right, the flag's own right [that means the viewer's left --Webmaster],
and its staff should be in front of the staff of the other flag.
3. The flag, when flown at half-staff, should be first hoisted
to the peak for an instant and then lowered to the half-staff position. The flag
should be again raised to the peak before it is lowered for the day. By
"half-staff" is meant lowering the flag to one-half the distance between the top
and bottom of the staff. Crepe streamers may be affixed to spear heads or
flagstaffs in a parade only by order of the President of the United States.
4. When flags of States, cities, or localities, or pennants of
societies are flown on the same halyard with the flag of the United States, the
latter should always be at the peak. When the flags are flown from adjacent
staffs, the flag of the United States should be hoisted first and lowered last.
No such flag or pennant may be placed above the flag of the United States or to
the right of the flag of the United States.
5. When the flag is suspended over a sidewalk from a rope
extending from a house to a pole at the edge of the sidewalk, the flag should be
hoisted out, union first, from the building.
6. When the flag of the United States 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 be placed at the peak of the
staff unless the flag is at half-staff.
7. When the flag is used to cover a casket, it should be so
placed that the union is at the head and over the left shoulder. The flag should
not be lowered into the grave or allowed to touch the ground.
8. 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 it should be displayed in the same way, that is with the
union or blue field to the left of the observer in the street. When festoons,
rosettes or drapings are desired, bunting of blue, white and red should be used,
but never the flag.
9. That the flag, when carried in a procession with another
flag, or flags, should be either on the marching right; that is, the flag's own
right, or, if there is a line of other flags, in front of the center of that
line.
10. The flag of the United States of America should be at the
center and at the highest point of the group when a number of flags of States or
localities or pennants of societies are grouped and displayed from staffs.
11. When flags of two or more nations are displayed, they are
to be flown from separate staffs of the same height. 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.
12. When displayed from a staff in a church or public
auditorium, the flag of the United States of America should hold the position of
superior prominence, in advance of the audience, and in the position of honor at
the clergyman's or speaker's right as he faces the audience. Any other flag so
displayed should be placed on the left of the clergyman or speaker or to the
right of the audience.

Flag Laws and Regulations
By Executive Order, the flag flies 24 hours a
day at the following locations:
 | The Betsy Ross House, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
 | The White House, Washington, D.C.
 | U.S. Capitol, Washington, D.C.
 | Washington Monument, Washington, D.C.
 | Iwo Jima Memorial to U.S. Marines, Arlington, Virginia
 | Battleground in Lexington, MA (site of first shots in the Revolutionary
War)
 | Winter encampment cabins, Valley Forge, Pennsylvania
 | Fort McHenry, Baltimore, Maryland (a flag flying over Fort McHenry after a
battle during the War of 1812 provided the inspiration for The Star-Spangled
Banner
 | The Star-Spangled Banner Flag House, Baltimore, Maryland (site where the
famed flag over Fort McHenry was sewn)
 | Jenny Wade House in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania (Jenny Wade was the only
civilian killed at the battle of Gettysburg)
 | U.S.S. Arizona Memorial, Pearl Harbor, Hawaii
 | All custom points and points of entry into the United States | | | | | | | | | | | |
The
following codification of existing rules and customs pertaining to the display
and use of the flag of the United States of America be, and it is hereby,
established for the use of such civilians or civilian groups or organizations as
may not be required to conform with regulations promulgated by one or more
executive departments of the Government of the United States. The flag of the
United States for the purpose of this chapter shall be defined according to
title 4, United States Code, Chapter 1, Section 1 and Section 2 and Executive
Order 10834 issued pursuant thereto.
Sec. 2.
- It is the universal custom to display the flag only from sunrise to sunset
on buildings and on stationary flagstaffs in the open. However, when a
patriotic effect is desired, the flag may be displayed twenty-four hours a day
if properly illuminated during the hours of darkness.
- The flag should be hoisted briskly and lowered ceremoniously.
- The flag should not be displayed on days when the weather is inclement,
except when an all-weather flag is displayed.
- The flag should be displayed on all days, especially on
 | New Year's Day, January 1
 | Inauguration Day, January 20
 | Lincoln's Birthday, February 12
 | Washington's Birthday, third Monday in February
 | Easter Sunday (variable)
 | Mother's Day, second Sunday in May
 | Armed Forces Day, third Saturday in May
 | Memorial Day (half-staff until noon), the last Monday in May
 | Flag Day, June 14
 | Independence Day, July 4
 | Labor Day, first Monday in September
 | Constitution Day, September 17
 | Columbus Day, second Monday in October
 | Navy Day, October 27
 | Veterans Day, November 11
 | Thanksgiving Day, fourth Thursday in November
 | Christmas Day, December 25
 | and such other days as may be proclaimed by the President of the United
States
 | the birthdays of States (date of admission)
 | and on State holidays.
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
The flag should be displayed daily on or near the main administration
building of every public institution.
The flag should be displayed in or near every polling place on election
days.
The flag should be displayed during school days in or near every
schoolhouse.
Sec. 3.
That the flag, when carried in a procession
with another flag or flags, should be either on the marching right; that is, the
flag's own right, or, if there is a line of other flags, in front of the center
of that line.
- The flag should not be displayed on a float in a parade except from a
staff, or as provided in subsection (i).
- The flag should not be draped over the hood, top, sides, or back of a
vehicle or of a railroad train or a boat. When the flag is displayed on a
motorcar, the staff shall be fixed firmly to the chassis or clamped to the
right fender.
- No other flag or pennant should be placed above or, if on the same level,
to the right of the flag of the United States of America, except during church
services conducted by naval chaplains at sea, when the church pennant may be
flown above the flag during church services for the personnel of the Navy.
- The flag of the United States of America, when it is displayed with
another flag against a wall from crossed staffs, should be on the right, the
flag's own right, and its staff should be in front of the staff of the other
flag.
- The flag of the United States of America should be at the center and at
the highest point of the group when a number of flags of States or localities
or pennants of societies are grouped and displayed from staffs.
- When flags of States, cities, or localities, or pennants of societies are
flown on the same halyard with the flag of the United States, the latter
should always be at the peak. When the flags are flown from adjacent staffs,
the flag of the United States should be hoisted first and lowered last. No
such flag or pennant may be placed above the flag of the United States or to
the United States flag's right.
- When flags of two or more nations are displayed, they are to be flown from
separate staffs of the same height. 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.
- When the flag of the United States 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 be placed at the peak of the staff
unless the flag is at half-staff. When the flag is suspended over a sidewalk
from a rope extending from a house to a pole at the edge of the sidewalk, the
flag should be hoisted out, union first, from the building.
- 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, the flag should be displayed in the same
way, with the union or blue field to the left of the observer in the street.
- When the flag is displayed 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.
- When used on a speaker's platform, the flag, if displayed flat, should be
displayed above and behind the speaker. When displayed from a staff in a
church or public auditorium, the flag of the United States of America should
hold the position of superior prominence, in advance of the audience, and in
the position of honor at the clergyman's or speaker's right as he faces the
audience. Any other flag so displayed should be placed on the left of the
clergyman or speaker or to the right of the audience.
- The flag should form a distinctive feature of the ceremony of unveiling a
statue or monument, but it should never be used as the covering for the statue
or monument.
- The flag, when flown at half-staff, should be first hoisted to the peak
for an instant and then lowered to the half-staff position. The flag should be
again raised to the peak before it is lowered for the day. On Memorial Day the
flag should be displayed at half-staff until noon only, then raised to the top
of the staff. By order of the President, the flag shall be flown at half-staff
upon the death of principal figures of the United States Government and the
Governor of a State, territory or possession, as a mark of respect to their
memory. In the event of the death of other officials or foreign dignitaries,
the flag is to be displayed at half-staff according to Presidential
instructions or orders, or in accordance with recognized customs or practices
not inconsistent with law. In the event of the death of a present or former
official of the government of any State, territory, or possession of the
United States, the Governor of that State, territory, or possession may
proclaim that the National flag shall be flown at half-staff. The flag shall
be flown at half-staff thirty days from the death of the President or a former
President; ten days from the day of death of the Vice President, the Chief
Justice or a retired Chief Justice of the United States, or the Speaker of the
House of Representatives; from the day of death until interment of an
Associate Justice of the Supreme Court, a Secretary of an executive or
military department, a former Vice President, or the Governor of a State,
territory, or possession; and on the day of death and the following day for a
Member of Congress. As used in this subsection (1) the term "half-staff" means
the position of the flag when it is one half the distance between the top and
bottom of the staff; (2) the term "executive or military department" means any
agency listed under sections 101 and 102 of title 5, United States Code; and
(3) the term "Member of Congress" means a Senator, a Representative, a
Delegate, or the Resident Commissioner from Puerto Rico.
- When the flag is used to cover a casket, it should be so placed that the
union is at the head and over the left shoulder. The flag should not be
lowered into the grave or allowed to touch the ground.
- When the flag is suspended across a corridor or lobby in a building with
only one main entrance, it should be suspended vertically with the union of
the flag to the observer's left upon entering. If the building has more than
one main entrance, the flag should be suspended vertically near the center of
the corridor or lobby with the union to the north, when entrances are to the
east and west or to the east when entrances are to the north and south. If
there are entrances in more than two directions, the union should be to the
east.
Sec. 4.
That no disrespect should be shown to the
flag of the United States of America -- the flag should not be dipped to any
person or thing. Regimental colors, State flags, and organization or
institutional flags are to be dipped as a mark of honor.
- The flag should never be displayed with the union down, except as a signal
of dire distress in instances of extreme danger to life or property.
- The flag should never touch anything beneath it, such as the ground, the
floor, water, or merchandise.
- The flag should never be carried flat or horizontally, but always aloft
and free.
- The flag should never be used as wearing apparel, bedding, or drapery. It
should never be festooned, drawn back, nor up, in folds, but always allowed to
fall free. Bunting of blue, white and red, always arranged with the blue
above, the white in the middle, and the red below, should be used for covering
a speaker's desk, draping the front of the platform, and for decoration in
general.
- The flag should never be fastened, displayed, used, or stored in such a
manner as to permit it to be easily torn, soiled, or damaged in any way.
- The flag should never be used as a covering for a ceiling.
- The flag should never have placed upon it, nor on any part of it, nor
attached to it any mark, insignia, letter, word, figure, design, picture, or
drawing of any nature.
- The flag should never be used as a receptacle for receiving, holding,
carrying, or delivering anything.
- The flag should never be used for advertising purposes in any manner
whatsoever. It should not be embroidered on such articles as cushions or
handkerchiefs and the like, printed or otherwise impressed on paper napkins or
boxes or anything that is designed for temporary use and discard. Advertising
signs should not be fastened to a staff or halyard from which the flag is
flown.
- No part of the flag should ever be used as a costume or athletic uniform.
However, a flag patch may be affixed to the uniform of military personnel,
firemen, policemen, and members of patriotic organizations. The flag
represents a living country and is itself considered a living thing.
Therefore, the lapel flag pin being a replica, should be worn on the left
lapel near the heart.
- The flag, when it is in such condition that it is no longer a fitting
emblem for display, should be destroyed in a dignified way, preferably by
burning.
Sec. 5.
During the ceremony of hoisting or lowering
the flag or when the flag is passing in a parade or in review, all persons
present except those in uniform should face the flag and stand at attention with
the right hand over the heart. Those present in uniform should render the
military salute. When not in uniform, men should remove their headdress with
their right hand and hold it at the left shoulder, the hand being over the
heart. Aliens should stand at attention. The salute to the flag in a moving
column should be rendered at the moment the flag passes.
Sec. 6.
During rendition of the national anthem when the flag is
displayed, all present except those in uniform should stand at attention facing
the flag with the right hand over the heart. Men not in uniform should remove
their headdress with their right hand and hold it at the left shoulder, the hand
being over the heart. Persons in uniform should render the military salute at
the first note of the anthem and retain this position until the last note. When
the flag is not displayed, those present should face toward the music and act in
the same manner they would if the flag were displayed there.
Sec. 7.
The Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag, "I pledge allegiance
to the Flag of the United States of America, and to the Republic for which it
stands, one Nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all,"
should be rendered by standing at attention facing the flag with the right hand
over the heart. When not in uniform men should remove their headdress with their
right hand and hold it at the left shoulder, the hand being over the heart.
Persons in uniform should remain silent, face the flag, and render the military
salute.
Sec. 8.
Any rule or custom pertaining to the display of the flag of
the United States of America, set forth herein, may be altered, modified, or
repealed, or additional rules with respect thereto may be prescribed, by the
Commander in Chief of the Armed Forces of the United States, whenever he deems
it to be appropriate or desirable; and any such alteration or additional rule
shall be set forth in a proclamation.
No person shall display the flag of the United Nations or any other national
or international flag equal, above, or in a position of superior prominence or
honor to, or in place of, the flag of the United States at any place within the
United States or any Territory or possession thereof; Provided, That nothing in
this section shall make unlawful the continuance of the practice heretofore
followed of displaying the flag of the United Nations in a position of superior
prominence or honor, and other national flags in positions of equal prominence
or honor, with that of the flag of the United States at the headquarters of the
United Nations.

Information courtesy of ushistory.org