New Yorkers, Here’s How to Fly the American Flag with Respect
At my house, the American flag flies proudly every single day. We might not always agree with everything happening in the country, but that doesn’t change how much we love this land and its people. Despite recent challenges, we remain genuinely proud to be Americans.
Along with the large flag out front, we also place smaller wooden flags along the road in front of our house and line our garden wall. These go up on Memorial Day weekend and stay until well into the fall, a tradition that helps us honor and remember.
Most people know the flag should never touch the ground (though accidents do happen), but there are many other important flag etiquette guidelines that are good to keep in mind.
Etiquette for When Flying the American Flag
The American flag should be flown from sunrise to sunset, unless you have proper lighting to keep it illuminated during the night. When it’s displayed alongside other flags, like state flags, it should always be flown higher than the others to show its importance.
The flag is flown at half-staff on specific occasions, such as Memorial Day. On that day, flags across the country stay at half-staff until noon, then are raised back to full height.
Also, the flag should never be flown upside down except in an emergency situation where someone is in serious distress. If you ever see the flag upside down, it’s a signal of danger, and it’s important to alert authorities so they can check on the situation.
Who Should Salute the American Flag and When
During ceremonial events, anyone in uniform, like military personnel or first responders, should face the flag and give a military salute. If a military member or veteran is there but not in uniform, it’s still okay for them to salute as well. Everyone else should face the flag, remove any hats or head coverings, and place their right hand over their heart.
Things That Should Never Be Done With the American Flag
The American flag should never touch the ground. It’s also important that the flag is never worn as clothing, like wrapped around the body or cut up to make an outfit. Using the flag as a decoration is off-limits too.
If you want to add a patriotic touch to your decorations, bunting is the way to go, it resembles the flag without actually being one. The flag should never be drawn on, tied back, or crumpled up. When you’re not flying it, fold it carefully into a triangle and store it somewhere clean and safe so it stays in good condition.
How to Properly Dispose of the American Flag
Sometimes, the inevitable happens and the American flag becomes worn out and is no longer suitable to be flown. When that happens, there are special steps you should follow to respectfully and properly retire the flag. If you want to learn the right way to dispose of a flag and why it’s important to do it with care, check this out.