How to Fly the U.S. Flag: Not on a T-Shirt

An earlier version of this post appeared, by request, at Yahoo. It cites the U.S. flag code as reprinted in the Kingsport Daily News, and also mentioned a Yahoo article on the same theme by Bridget Delaney.

Private citizens are never required to display any flag. In 2001, President George W. Bush gave some rather vague suggestions about people showing patriotic feelings by buying and displaying U.S. flags. One immediate result was that snack wagons in Washington and its suburbs burst out with dozens of miniature flags as vendors (mostly foreign-born) rushed to declare themselves on the right side.


Another result was a shift in flag etiquette. During the twentieth century, flag patches were part of the uniforms worn by people actively serving their country in some way, but sewing the patches onto casual clothes was poor etiquette. Flag images were printed on T-shirts and sweatshirts around the turn of the century. Wearing them seemed tacky to many people but the Bush and Clinton administrations seemed tolerant of these shirts.

State and federal Flag Codes have recently reinforced the rule that flag patches should be worn only as part of a uniform. Pictures of waving flags, which cannot be confused with flag patches, are not specifically discussed. The federal code does not prescribe penalties for inappropriate private displays of the U.S. flag, other than ridicule. It discourages use of the flag in or on casual clothing.

Here are additional updated rules:

1. U.S. flags should not be flown in the dark. They should be lowered at sunset unless they are spotlighted.

2. U.S. flags should not be subjected to weather damage. "All-weather flags" are available, and allowed by the Flag Code...but a flag drooping in the rain looks more pathetic than patriotic.

3. Flags should be flown over public buildings, including schools, and voting sites. Flags may be displayed on private property at the owners' discretion. It's proper to display a flag on any national or state holiday, or on private occasions of celebration, as long as correct etiquette is shown. Ribbons, not flags, are what we leave up until our loved ones come back from the war.

4. Schools and government offices such as the post office traditionally set the rules for local flag displays. Flags are hoisted briskly in the morning and lowered slowly in the evening. Flags are flown at half-mast on occasions of mourning. The governor of your state may declare occasions of public mourning.

5. When the U.S. flag is displayed along with other flags, the U.S. flag should occupy the top or front position, or the position "on its own marching right" of a side-by-side display. (When flags are lined up on a wall, the U.S. flag should be to the far left of a person facing the wall.) The U.S. flag is raised first and lowered last. The blue "union" part of the flag should be above and "to its own marching right" of the stripes, as shown.

6. If the flag is displayed over a street or corridor where it can be seen from both sides, the "union" should be to the north or east.

7. The U.S. flag is never twirled or dipped to salute people or things. (State and regimental flags can be dipped.)

8. The U.S. flag should not be allowed to touch the ground, floor, water, or objects below it. A flag that has been seen to touch the ground was traditionally considered soiled and formally retired in a ceremony that involved clipping the "union" away from the stripes and burning the pieces. This is still correct form for silk flags, but since nylon flags can be cleaned and release toxic fumes when burned, it is now acceptable to have a soiled flag dry cleaned and restore it to service. Flags should not be flown in a soiled or ragged condition.

9. Other designs should not be added to the U.S. flag. Federal I.D. traditionally contain photographs of members of the civil or military service standing in front of a flag, but I'm not sure how the authors of the Flag Code would feel about incorporating the flag into an online "avatar" or "userpic."

10. The U.S. flag is not used for any purpose other than display. No wrapping it around your body. No using it as a substitute for curtains or bed sheets. If you ever do have to use a flag as an emergency bandage or tourniquet, as it might be after a shipwreck, keep quiet about it and dispose of the soiled flag with appropriate ceremony.

11. The U.S. flag is not printed on napkins, boxes, or fabric. Traditional Fourth of July decorations are made of paper and fabric dyed red, white, and blue to match the flag. These fabrics can include star and stripe motifs, but should not look like flags.

12. U.S. citizens salute our flag when it is raised, lowered, or carried past us in a parade. It is not necessary to salute every time we see a flag flying outside a building. When in civilian clothing, we salute by standing at attention, facing the flag, with right hands "over our hearts." Men who are wearing hats hold their hats in their left hands during this salute. Military personnel in uniform give a military salute.

13. There is an officially prescribed way to fold the U.S. flag after lowering it from a pole. The flag is carried to the pole in this folded position, then hoisted aloft. When carried in a parade, the staff supporting the U.S. flag should be held aloft so that the flag remains higher than the bearer's head.

14. Citizens of other countries stand at attention facing the U.S. flag, but don't salute, since their allegiance is still to their own countries.

15. Early in the twentieth century, it was considered polite and public-spirited to learn and sing the national anthems of friendly countries other than our own. Later, this practice was officially ruled off limits. Polite people around the world now sit or stand in respectful silence when other national anthems are sung, but don't sing.