American Flag Etiquette

If you ever wondered what flag etiquette was, here are some rules which pertain to displaying the flag of the United States of America.

These excerpts are from United States Code Title 4 Chapter 1 – The Flag:

•  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 be lighted at all times, either by sunlight or by an appropriate light source.
•  The flag should be flown in fair weather, unless the flag is designed for inclement weather use.
•  The flag should never be used for any decoration in general. Bunting of blue, white and red stripes is available for these purposes.
• The flag should never be used for any advertising purpose. It should never be used on anything intended to be discarded after use.
•  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.

Flags that are faded ripped or otherwise unfit for display can be brought to your local flag repository. If you don’t have a flag repository box in your town a great start is to call the American Legion. Very often they can point you in the right direction, or they may be equipped to take your flag.