Proper US Flag Etiquette info...

[Ed_S]

Came across this & thought it worth sharing. I'm ashamed to admit I only knew part of it, and judging by the ones I've seen all over, lots of people don't know either!
Of course, IMO that does not detract from the feelings expressed by flying it.

Source: Flag Etiquette

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 twenty-four hours a day if properly illuminated during the hours of darkness.

The flag should be hoisted briskly and lowered ceremoniously.

The flag should not be displayed on days when the weather is inclement, except when an all weather flag is displayed.

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.

When the flag of the United States is displayed from a staff projecting horizontally or at an angle from the window sill, balcony, or front of a building, the union of the flag should be placed at the peak of the staff unless the flag is at half staff.

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.

The flag, when flown at half-staff, should be first hoisted to the peak for an instant and then lowered to the half-staff position. The flag should be again raised to the peak before it is lowered for the day.

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.

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 never be used as wearing apparel, bedding, or drapery. It should never be festooned, drawn back, nor up, in folds, but always allowed to fall free. Bunting of blue, white and red, always arranged with the blue above, the white in the middle, and the red below, should be used for covering a speaker's desk, draping the front of the platform, and for decoration in general.

The flag should never be fastened, displayed, used, or stored in such a manner as to permit it to be easily torn, soiled, or damaged in any way.

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.

During the ceremony of hoisting or lowering the flag or when the flag is passing in a parade of in review, all persons present except for 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.

Beleive it or not, that was the brief version, if you want to read the whole thing go for it!
Complete Flag Code

[mimic]

Ed_S,
Thank you for posting that. We had a meeting a work today and I brought up the fact that we should get a flag. I was going to look for proper Flag etiquette and found just what I needed in your post. Thanks, I'll have to check out the link also.

[Toadman]

I remember learning the proper way to fold the flag from Scouting, with only the union showing(no stripes visible).

50 years ago you would get a beating for displaying Old Glory the way some people do today.(Rock THIS vote, Madonna). I see the proposed flag-burning Amendment is getting a re-charge in Congress as well.

Good post , Ed.

[NavyDood_ F/A18_Mech]

Also......

When you have the flag in your hands whether it be by itself or on a flagstaff of some sort, you never walk backwards with it in your hand. Fowards only.

If you are standing in front of a flag, you never take your first step away from it walking backwards. You about face, then walk away.

If you choose to ever paint the flag on a moving vehicle, the union must always be the leading edge into the air stream. For example....... if you paint one on the left side of your car, it would look normal. The union would be at the top left. If you paint one on the right side, then the union would be at the top right. Mirror imaged.


Jim

[Banti]

Ed_s joo rool

I went hiking this past weekend with some friends of mine. I saw some guy afixing flags to a bridge near a river. I commented that he was letting the flags touch the ground, and one was so faded and raged that it should be burned.

The other two looked at me like I was a flag nazi. What makes it worse is that we all are/were Eagle scouts, and I was the only one who was pissed.

Banti

~~EDIT Banti needs to get hooked on fonics

[Hawkeye178]

I learned that in Social Studies last year .

Hawkeye178

[Ed_S]

Well, Toadman, since you brought up the folding issue...

Flag Folding

Also found this:
Flag of the United States