Parade Protocol for the U.S. Flag
Dec 10th, 2007 by Larry Hendrick
Deborah and I were running errands Saturday morning, and darned if a parade didn’t break out in downtown Sattler, Texas (population 30). To be fair, the Canyon Lake area has a population of 29,000 people.
As with all parades, there were flags everywhere, so I got busy taking pictures with my cell phone (I could have sworn the camera was in the car) while Deborah actively watched the parade, standing out front of the Ace Hardware store.
It was a great parade and we enjoyed ourselves very much. Besides horses (riding clubs), there were two marching bands, classic cars (about eight 55-57 Thunderbirds), lots of politicians, and several local organizations represented.
Speaking of flags, it was apparent some of the participants needed to brush up on the U.S. Flag Code. Some of the parade participants displayed the flags improperly, so with that introduction, I would like to give a lecture on parade protocol.
As I’ve written before, the problem appears when the U.S. flag is displayed with other flags. Using the U.S. and Texas flag code as our guide books, I’ll point out the good and the bad from our Christmas parade.
The U.S. Flag Code has plenty to say about parades, with explicit instructions for both those in the parade and those watching.
Parade Participants
Section 7 of the Flag Code, titled Position and Manner of Display, begins by describing parade protocol for the flag.
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.
(a) The flag should not be displayed on a float in a parade except from a staff, or as provided in subsection (i) of this section.
(b) 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.(i) 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.
Parade Color Guard
The parade Color Guard led off with five flags. At first glance everything looks good, but if you’ll click the picture to see it larger, it isn’t. I can identify four of the flags, and have a guess to the fifth. They are displayed in this order: front row, U.S. flag, riding club flag, Texas flag, followed by a local flag, and the Mexican flag. I will give them credit for having the U.S. flag in the proper place, but the other four are wrong.
Using the U.S. Flag Code in conjunction with the Texas flag code, the flags should have been presented, in order; U.S. flag, Mexican flag,Texas flag, local flag, then the riding club flag.
My suggestion for the best way would be to present the U.S. flag in the lead with a line of the other four flags, in the order I assigned above, in a second row. That would be best the best way to showcase the American flag.
The Shriners marched their own Color Guard and all the flags were displayed in the right order.
The American flag is to parade right, with the Mexican National flag second, the Texas flag third, then their organization flag on the far left.
This is a positive example of a group taking the time to know and understand the proper display of all the flags involved. They didn’t have to display all four flags, but in doing so, it’s nice to see it done right.
The Shriners, with their variety of little cars and motorcycles participate in a lot of parades, and I applaud this organization for knowing proper flag protocol.
Float Displays
Local VFW Post #8573, which I wrote about on Veteran’s day, used a trailer as a float in the parade. The flags were mounted on the very back of the trailer and technically displayed correctly.
The U.S. flag is mounted in the center and higher than the other two flags. The Texas flag is displayed to the parade’s right (Texas flag code) and the POW-MIA flag to the parade’s left. This meets all the requirements of the U.S. and Texas Flag Codes.
Though their flag display is correct, I think it would be more fitting if the flags were mounted on the front of the trailer, leading the way forward—rather than riding drag (cattle drive reference).
Vehicle Displays
“Clamped to the right fender” is the correct way to display the U.S. flag on a vehicle according to the Flag Code. In the picture, you’ll notice the U.S. flag attached to the right fender and the Texas flag attached to the left fender on the fire truck.
The Texas Flag Code states,
§ 3100.064. DISPLAY ON FLAGSTAFF ON MOTOR VEHICLE. If the state flag is displayed on a flagstaff on a motor vehicle, the staff should be attached firmly to the chassis or clamped to the right fender. If the flag of the United States and the state flag are displayed on flagstaffs on a motor vehicle:
(1) the staff of the flag of the United States should be clamped to the right fender of the vehicle; and
(2) the staff of the state flag should be clamped to the left fender of the vehicle.
Most of the vehicles displayed the two flags properly.
Parade Watchers
The photograph at the top of the page shows not only the flags properly displayed, but in the background you’ll see two people respectfully holding the right hand held over the heart, which is correct. Section 9 of the Flag Code addresses this in detail.
Section 9 (in its entirety)
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.
Now you know how to act at your next parade. And if you are in charge, make sure the lead Color Guard displays the flags right.
Also, if you get pictures of flags in your local Christmas parade, send them in with narrative and we’ll publish them for everyone’s enjoyment.
Is there a proper distance the police should be in front of a color guard unit when the police are the first part of the parade and the color guard the second?
Thank you.
Nancy A.
Thanks for writing Nancy. The code doesn’t speak to this, so as long as there is enough clearance so the flags don’t hit the police, it’ll be fine.
Is there a protocol for individuals on the reviewing stand? What I want to know is it not required that each and everyone on the reviewing stand to show respect to the American flag of all units in a parade or just the Officer taking salutes.
Hi Tim, thank you for writing.
If I follow you correctly, you are asking about the protocol for a civilian who is seated in the reviewing stand for a military parade. If this is the case, there most likely will be only one U.S. flag, and it will be carried by the color guard at the very beginning of the parade. You will stand and salute the flag appropriately as it passes the reviewing stand.
The superior officer in the stands, who is receiving and returning salutes from the units in the parade will do so on his own—guests will remain seated. These smaller units will probably be carrying their unit colors, but not another U.S. flag.
But if another U.S. flag does pass by the reviewing stand, then I’d salute it too.
Hi, I am in charge of our local parade and I am trying to locate the rules to parade line up for the color guards. There is some issues in my town regarding if the active Marine Corp group should be the first color guard ahead of our local American Legion. The American Legion says they do have one active member so they should go first because they are the local group. The Marine Corp says they should go first because that is military protocol.
Hello Mr. Kirk,
Your question is timely, to say the least. Today, July 21, 2008—I posted links to the Armed Services’ flag manuals.
The Marine Color guard should lead off the parade. USMC takes precedence over the American Legion. For order of precedence, see page 59 in the Marine Corps manual, and a second reference would be page 5 in the Army manual.
The flags of civilian organizations take their place of order after the federal and state flags, and the flag protocol for them is based of the chronological date of their charter. As a civilian organization, the American Legion was chartered in 1919, and is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization—and under no circumstances would take precedence ahead of the U.S. Marine Corps.
Parade order follows the same protocol as flag order. Do you have to place every parade organization in precise order of charter? No, of course not. But if the various groups disagree about who comes first, it solves all the problems
What should be the position of a 20′ X 30′ flag when passing the reviewing stand? Flag is carried horizontally with the blue field side raised. Thank you. Fred Butts
What is the position of the blue field when a flag carried horizontally with the blue field side raised passes the reviewing stand?
Hi Fred—thank you for writing.
Let me answer both of your questions by quoting from the U.S. Flag Code, Section 8—Respect for the Flag: (c) the flag should never be carried flat or horizontally, but always aloft and free.
It has become very popular in recent years, to carry and display large flags in parades, or at football games in pregame or half-time shows—or at other events of a grand scale. My quoting the U.S. Flag Code isn’t going to stop this practice, because many people feel that because the flag exhibit is done in good faith and is patriotic, then nothing is wrong with it.
Compliance with the Flag Code is voluntary, and often it is arbitrary too, as we pick and choose which parts we like. This is not a pointed remark at you. I am grateful that you have taken the time to ask about the proper form. This is a constant struggle and you are not alone.
To my knowledge, the ONLY time the flag is placed in a horizontal position is when it is placed on a casket: Sec. 7. Position and Manner of Display—(n) 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.
I personally refer to this left side placement of the union—the blue field—as the “mourning position,” and I have been researching as to when this specific protocol began.
Because the Flag Code is so specific on these two point of flag positioning—Sec 7. (n) and Sec. 8 (c)—I am reluctant to advise you, except to say the highly symbolic “left field” placement on caskets is the only occasion in which the flag is displayed with the union to the left. (The flag patches on the right shoulder of military combat uniforms—with the union to the wearer’s left—are considered flags in motion—going forward at all times.)
Again, I thank you for writing The Daily Flag.
Hello, The question I have is, “Is the POW-MIA Flag a federal flag now?” I am a member of a state color guard and we were told by our color captain that it is and when we line up the colors it goes next to the national flag, but members of our local American Legion say that we are wrong. Please help. Thank you.
Hi Chuck, I have a long annotated and linked answer for you, and I don’t think your color guard captain is going to like it, but the members of your local American Legion are correct: the POW/MIA is not a “federal” flag. The POW/MIA flag is highly esteemed and greatly beloved, but it is not a federal flag. Legally, it is the symbol of a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, the National League of Families of American Prisoners and Missing in Southeast Asia.
Here is a link to the law in the U.S. Code that addresses the POW/MIA flag. Please read it carefully, and note that it only addresses federal usage. I wrote about the POW/MIA flag here, and here on The Daily Flag. These articles are lengthy and long-winded (sorry for that), but I was trying to explain about the flag in great detail, and others have been confused about the status of the POW/MIA flag.
I suggest that you print out the portion of the U.S. Code that addresses the POW/MIA flag, and that you also print out what I wrote so you can see it in print.
Hitting the highlights, there are six days that Congress set aside for the POW/MIA flag to be flown over FEDERAL installations. This means military bases, cemeteries, hospitals, post offices, federal buildings, and et cetera. The law addresses the federal government only—not states and not civilians. (And there are some locations where the federal government requires the POW/MIA flag to be flown 24/7). Of course civilians and states are permitted and encouraged to honor the POW/MIA flag, but they are not ordered to do so by the federal government. But remember that federal installations do not fly state flags.
Forgive me for using the state of Texas as an example, but it is a good example. The Texas flag code permits no other flag except the U.S. flag to be flown above the Lone Star flag. At the state capitol building in Austin, Texas, there is a single flagpole in front of the state house, and another flagpole at the back. On the “front” flagpole, the U.S. flag is flown, and the state of Texas flag flies underneath it. On the “back” flagpole, only the Lone Star is flown.
On those six days enumerated in the portion of the U.S. Code that addresses the POW/MIA flag, the State of Texas removes the Lone Star flag and flies the POW/MIA flag underneath the U.S. flag. It does this to honor and remember our POW/MIA that are still unaccounted for. The law in the U.S. Code regarding the POW/MIA flag was written for federal installations only. But the State of Texas chooses to remove the Lone Star flag to honor the POW/MIA flag, and not dishonor or violate the Texas flag code. To my knowledge, the state has never done this for any other flag.
Regarding the parade and a color guard carrying the POW/MIA flag: By U.S. State Department protocol and etiquette, the flags of 501(c)(3) congressionally chartered organizations are ordered by the date of their charter, which essentially means that the POW/MIA flag would be carried at the end of a long line of other organizations, if the color guard were carrying their colors too.
This is highly unlikely, so now the problem is to figure out where the POW/MIA flag should be carried by the color guard—-which will probably be carrying the flag on one of those six days: the Fourth of July, Independence Day. There are two ways to do this properly, because (forgive me for repeating myself) the state color guard is under no legal obligation to carry the POW/MIA flag, but it is an act of honor and respect to voluntarily carry the POW/MIA flag.
If your color guard is NOT carrying any flags of the Armed Forces (Army, Marines, Navy, Air Force, Coast Guard), then the POW/MIA flag can be carried to the left of your state flag (please confirm though your state’s flag code). If the color guard IS carrying the five military flags, then the POW/MIA flag should be carried to the left of the Coast Guard flag, at the same height and of the same size.
However, and it is highly irregular (because the laws regarding to the POW/MIA flag do not address carrying the flag in a parade), but the person who carries the Stars and Stripes, could carry a smaller POW/MIA flag on the same pole at the national flag. This honors the POW/MIA flag, voluntarily complies with the federal law, but does not violate the protocol and etiquette regarding your state flag, and/or the flags of our armed forces.
In reaching to this conclusion, I talked to protocol and etiquette officers at the Pentagon and researched materials at the U.S. State Department. I consulted officials at the state of Texas, and I asked for a Congressional Research Service finding (the legal arm of Congress, which researches our laws for Congress) through my federal senator, and I read through ALL of the flag manuals of the armed forces.
These findings in no way take away from the enormous and unique honor bestowed upon the POW/MIA flag, but it not a federal flag, and a careful reading of the law written into the U.S. Code will confirm it.
I’m very happy to have learned of this site. During our July 4th parade, the council for the arts continually place the Color Guard, High School ROTC led, somewhere around 6th to 10th position in the parade, behind various other groups. Should the Color Guard, even though High School ROTC, lead off the parade? If not, what position should they be in? Our Kiwanis Club is always in disagreement with the council since we line up the parade. Thanks.
Hi Tom—I’m glad you found The Daily Flag too!
A civilian parade does not have to have a color guard, but if it does, then the color guard leads the parade, always. A parade might have more than one color guard, but in order of protocol, a military color guard or ROTC color guard have priority and lead the parade, regardless of any other organizations that might be carrying the colors too (Boy Scouts, for VFW for example).
A military color guard would not show up without an invitation, and I am going to assume that the high school ROTC color guard was invited to carry the colors for the Fourth of July parade, so this was a breach of protocol for two reasons. Someone needs to apologize to the ROTC students.
Here is another article from The Daily Flag which has more information about parade protocol, especially in the comments section.
I belong to the County Sheriff’s Posse and we received a real tongue lashing when the parade coordinator placed us in front of the VFW at the local 4th of July Parade. We carry the American Flag and our truck which rides behind us carries the County Flag and our Posse Flag. We have led parades with our Sheriff leading us on horseback with no problem
but have been told that the Veterans always come before us. We are not deputized but belong to the sheriff’s department. What is politically correct?
Sandy, I need to ask a few questions, so to answer properly may take a few more exchanges of information.
Who or what organization provided the official color guard for the parade? Was there a parade marshal or guest of honor/organization for the parade? Thanks, Deborah
We had 6 color guards sign up for a recent parade. We have always led off with our local VFW color guard but this year they chose to ride and I felt the colors should be led by a marching unit. Being we have always rotated the out of town color guards we let the marching Shriner color guard lead followed by the local VFW riding and than four more vets clubs. The Shriners did have a Mexican flag and a state flag as well as the American flag but they were displayed properly. I received a lot of static from one of the vets clubs stating that protocol dictated that the “civilian” shriners should never lead a parade in front of any vets club. They also stated that a Mexican flag should never be displayed in front of any flag in a parade. This being the case the Shriners should have been behind the last horse units as there are numerous flags in a typical parade. Did I screw this up?
No Sir, you did not. I have the greatest affection for veterans groups (and I have personally worked with several), but they are “civilian” organizations too, just like the Shriners. They are all 501(c)(3) non-profit organizations. If the custom of the parade organizers is to invite “guest” color guards (which is very common across the country), then giving the honor to the Shriners was certainly proper. Many Shriner color guards carry the flags of other nations, which is generally a reflection of their particular group’s local membership. There is no “protocol” that would relegate the Shriners to the back of the parade (especially as a penalty for carrying the flag of another nation).
The Shriners in my area (south Texas) carry the flag of Mexico, and their color guards are scrupulously correct. Here is a link to a Daily Flag article that includes a photo of a Shriner color guard in a Christmas parade, and you can click on the photo for an enlarged photo. It takes nothing away from the U.S. flag, or the state flag, for the guest flag of another country to be carried with honor by the color guard. If the Shriner color guard had been from the northeast, it might have been carrying the flag of Italy or Ireland.
The one color guard that “trumps” all other color guards is a military color guard. But of course a military color guard would not show up at a parade without being invited, and they would rightly assume that they were the lead unit. An ROTC unit, even a junior ROTC unit (high school), by order of protocol according to the U.S. State Department, would be give the honor of leading a parade over a 501(c)(3) organization.
I can’t imagine any parade that would not give special honor to our veterans, but even among veterans organizations, there is an order of protocol—predicated on the date of their congressional charter: oldest goes first. I have lived in places where there were multiple American Legion groups, VFWs, Vietnam Veterans Associates, etc. If you had a variety of these organizations participating in a parade, then it is correct to order them by date of their incorporation (congressional charter).
Having said this, if the same organizations participate year after year (especially veterans groups), then you could rotate them (and keep careful records so that each organizations has a chance to be “first”) as the years go by. A pre-parade organizational meeting, to which all parade participants are invited, can head off these problems, and I highly recommend it.
Thank you Mark, for writing. I hope this helps.
Best Wishes, Deborah Hendrick