Flag Code
Jun 20th, 2007 by Larry Hendrick
Title 4, Chapter 1 of the U.S. Code contains the United States Flag Code. The U.S. Flag Code governs the American Flag in size, style and use. For quick reference, Flags Bay presents the Flag Code, divided into the ten sections of the code for easy navigation.
This page has the following sub pages.
- Section 1. Flag, stripes and stars on
- Section 2. Same; additional stars
- Section 3. Use of flag for advertising purposes; mutilation of flag
- Section 4. Pledge of allegiance to the flag; manner of delivery
- Section 5. Display and use of flag by civilians; codification of rules and customs; definition
- Section 6. Time and occasions for display
- Section 7. Position and manner of display
- Section 8. Respect for flag
- Section 9. Conduct during hoisting, lowering or passing of flag
- Section 10. Modification of rules and customs by President
IF A CIVILIAN FLYS A FLAG ON THEIR PERSONAL PROPERTY. DO THEY HAVE TO HAVE A LIGHT ON IT?
Hello Mindy,
If the flag is flown after dark, then it should be lighted—that’s the rule for everyone, including civilians.
From Section 6 (a) 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
24 hours a day if properly illuminated during the hours of darkness.
Best Wishes, Deborah
I discovered your site in search of protocol during the playing of the National Anthem, to see if there is any corelation between this and the July 25, 2007 revision to the flag code which now gives veterans not in uniform the right to salute. (I note that your copy of the US Code, Title 4, Chapter 1, Section 9 has not been updated.)
This code defines the process for raising the flag, at which the National Anthem may be played, but does not deal specifically with the event where the flag is not raised, such as at an indoor sporting event.
Any comments on how the July 25 2007 action might apply? I will add that I was at a Memorial Day event conducted by the VFW and they suggested that veterans would salute during the anthem.
Hello Mr. Hirt,
Thank you for writing. Because the salute change in the flag code includes many citations and other legal references, I must wait for the government’s official text to be up-loaded on the federal website (which I hope will be soon), so that I don’t make any mistakes in recording it on my website. I wrote about this change on The Daily Flag, found here: http://www.flagsbay.com/flag/2008/07/22/flag-code-change-veterans-can-hand-salute-the-flag/
Recall that there are four separate events wherein we salute the flag:
1. As the flag passes in review carried by a color guard
2. When the flag is being raised on the flag pole
3. When we face the flag and recite the Pledge of Allegiance
4. When we sing the National Anthem—which normally, but not always, includes facing the flag, which is already in place on the pole. Many people are surprised to learn that we are supposed to salute the flag during the National Anthem, but it is written the U.S. Code.
As a veteran, you now have a choice when you salute the flag. I know that military personnel—in uniform—salute the flag, but do not recite the Pledge or sing the sing the National Anthem during the salute. This well-established protocol seems applicable to veterans who want to render a military salute. If you want to recite the Pledge, or sing the National Anthem (as appropriate to the occasion), then you can still remove your cover and hold it in your right hand while you salute over your heart.
The next consideration would be the venue itself, and I think all veterans could easily determine what was an “indoor” venue or an “outdoor” venue. Some covered sporting stadiums are so huge as to be perceived as outdoors, and the protocol regarding wearing covers and saluting would be the same as for outdoors.
The protocol for the National Anthem is found in different place in the U.S. Code from where the Flag Code is located. The Daily Flag has written extensively about it here, with much additional Q & A: http://www.flagsbay.com/flag/2007/02/13/protocol-for-the-national-anthem-and-pledge-of-allegiance/
Please write again if you have more questions.
Best Wishes, Deborah Hendrick
I have been trying to locate the Code whereby the flag can be flown upside down to depict extreme duress. Please advise. Thank you.
Rhonda, the answer to your question is found in Section 8 (Respect for the Flag)
in the U.S. Flag Code.
“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.
(a) 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.”
When the U.S. Flag is flown at Half Staff, is it required to remove any additional flags (i.e State Flags) from the same Halyard? I was under the impression that as long as the US Flag is in the Superior Position, then NO you dont have to remove State flags. -USMC
You are correct, Bobby. It is NOT necessary to remove the flags flying below the U.S. flag when it is ordered to half-staff. But depending on the height of the flag pole, flags flying below the U.S. flag may be very low on the pole indeed (especially a third flag), when lowered to half-staff, and should be removed if they are apt to brush against buildings or landscaping. Thanks for writing, Deborah.
Can a parade have more than one color guard carrying the national colors … ? I have seen this in the past (presidential inauguarations, etc …)
My Uncle proudly displays the Texas flag and the USA flag in his front yard. He was recently told that in time of war that the texas flag was to flown unside down. Is there any truth to this story? He wants to fly his flag in the correct way.
Hi Karen—I like your Uncle’s style. It’s a myth—about flying the Texas flag upside down in times of war. I wish I knew where it started, but now you and your Uncle both know, and can pass the word along too. The star always points to the top!
The link below goes to the Texas State Library and Archives Commission, and contains all there is to know about the legalities of the Lone Star flag. It’s splendid information.
http://www.tsl.state.tx.us/ref/abouttx/flagcode.html
Best Wishes,
Deborah Hendrick
Where can I find guidance on having American Flags at sporting events? Is it required to have an American Flage during sporting events or not? Our school is opening up the football season and asked me to conduct colorguard and raise the flag. To my surprise, they removed the flag pole due to renovations.
Where can I find information or regulations that state that it is required by law to have an American Flag flown at all times during a sporting event? I need proof for the University to ensure that we are either in compliance with Federal Code or not.
Thanks,
Ali, there is nothing written in the U.S. Flag Code that requires the U.S. flag to be flown at any sporting event. It is a traditional feature of most sporting events, but not compulsory.
Your proof is the Flag Code itself, and here is a link to the entire code at a federal website. It prints out to 23 pages of 12 pt. type. Or you can supply links to The Daily Flag article here, which breaks the code apart by the ten sections.
The university can host a flag ceremony by having a color guard carry the flag to the center of the field, turn and face the home stands. The band can play, or a soloist can sing the National Anthem, then the color guard will march off the field. I recommend that the color guard be staged on the sidelines at the 50 yard line, and that the color guard be announced. It is always appropriate to let people know the flag is about to be paraded, so they can be given time to stand, remove head coverings, etc, and prepare to salute the flag during the National Anthem. Thank you for writing, Ali.
Good Luck and best wishes,
Deborah
Greetings,
I am a Chef working overseas in a multi national Hotel, The Senior Chefs have the flag of their home country embroidered on the collar of their Chefs jackets, is this allowed with the American flag or not?
JG
Jeff, the U.S. Flag Code says in Section 8, Respect for the Flag:
I am (almost always) a strict adherent to the Flag Code, but your circumstance is certainly unique. I would not criticize you for wearing a chef’s jacket with the U.S. flag embroidered on the collar. You might ask if you can wear a flag pin instead, and splurge on a really nice one (they can be very expensive) —- because a flag pin would not be a violation of the flag code. By the guidelines above, I am not one of those entitled to wear a flag patch on any article of my clothing, so I wear a flag pin, too.
However, the reality is, every sporting team in the U.S. wears a U.S. flag patch or decal on some part of their uniform. At present, the Olympics are going on in Canada, and I’ve seen more violations of the U.S. Flag Code than I can list. Two weeks ago at the Super Bowl, a large U.S. flag was displayed flat during the pre-game ceremony during the National Anthem, and that is a seriously egregious violation of the U.S. flag code (because the only time the flag is permitted to be displayed flat is when it is draped on a coffin).
Thank you for writing. If you have the time, drop me an email and let me know what you decide to do.
Good Luck Jeff, and Best Wishes, Deborah
deborah@flagsbay.com
Deborah,
Question regarding the order of presentation at a conference business meeting.
Should the welcoming remarks by the Mayor, Senator, etc. proceed the posting of the colors, or should the posting of the colors occur first. I tend to go with posting of the colors, invocation, and then the welcome.
Thanks
By custom and tradition, the posting of the colors signals the beginning of an event. The colors should be announced, so that all may have time to rise and remove their hear coverings as necessary.
After the colors are posted, there is great latitude in how things proceed. The Master of Ceremonies could invited an honored guest to lead those gathered in the Pledge of Allegiance. The MC could invite the assembly to stand for the invocation, followed by the National Anthem. You could go straight from the colors, to the invocation, then the welcome, and skip the Pledge and National Anthem entirely. Most large groups don’t have any trouble reciting the Pledge of Allegiance, but without a “conductor” or soloist, and musical accompaniment, most groups would have trouble singing the national anthem a cappella.
[I personally am in favor of everyone singing the national anthem together (instead of a soloist), but it takes a leader/singer with great poise and a big voice to lead the rest of the guests, especially a capella.
Thank you for writing Michael. Best Wishes, Deborah
When is it legal for Landlord to tell a american vet who has served his country that he cant display the american flag?
Barbara, the Freedom to Display the American Flag Act of 2005, signed into law by President Bush, was designed to protect the rights of renters and homeowners in HOAs who want to fly the flag on “their” living space. However, this “right” is carefully balanced against the rights of HOAs and landlords, who obviously have an undeniable right to maintain the property they own or manage to a particular standard. This means that right right to fly the flag is absolute, but it means that the HOA or landlord may strictly describe and enforce how, when, and where a flag may be flown.
This link will take you to an article I wrote a few years ago about the Freedom to Display the American Flag Act, which includes the entire text of the act. Please print it out, study it carefully, and take it to the landlord. If both parties negotiate in good faith, I am certain an acceptable solution can be found. Many landlords have never heard of the “Act” but will agree to a compromise when they see what the law actually says.
And here are more links to similar articles.
If you search the internet, you may find suitable articles on this topic that you can use to show the landlord.
Good luck, and best wishes,
Deborah Hendrick
We have a 30 ft flag pole for the US flag. Can we attach a webcam to the pole?
Thanks,
Jeff
Hi Jeff, it seems like a flagpole would be a useful place to mount a webcam, but predicated on and extrapolating from Section 8 of the U.S. Flag Code, at article it (i) is says:
(i) 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 orhttp://www.flagsbay.com/flag/wp-admin/edit-comments.php#comments-form
halyard from which the flag is flown.
I think the last sentence would cover a webcam. It was not possible for those who codified the U.S. Flag Code to anticipate our means of communication in the future, but I have to say no to a webcam on the flagpole. (And there are those who will not even attach uplights to the flagpole, for the purpose of lighting the flag at night. They are placed around the pole but not on it.)
Thank you for writing, Jeff.
Best Wishes,
Deborah Hendrick
When you are standing inside at a meeting for the presentation of the “Pledge Allegiance” to the U.S. Flag and you are a veteran not in uniform is it proper to salute the flag or should you just put your hand over your heart as you say the pledge?
Veterans and all active duty military personnel now have the option of saluting the flag while wearing civilian clothing, and without covers. It’s your personal decision now. I personally believe that if you do want to salute the flag, you should not recite the Pledge, just as you did when you were on active duty, but that is my opinion only. Thank you for writing, Mr. Miller.