Sunday, Dec 2, 2012
Garza County News

Courtesy Photo

Display Your Flag This Holiday Weekend

Published May 25, 2012 @ 6 a.m.

Some individuals and businesses display their flag every day; however, according to the web site flagetiquette.us, it is especially important that the flag be displayed on certain holidays and special days declared by the President.

Regarding flag etiquette for the upcoming Memorial Day holiday, the U. S. flag should be flown at half-staff until Noon and then raised to full-staff.

Here is a list of the days when the U. S. flag should be displayed:  New Year’s Day, Inauguration Day, Martin Luther King’s Birthday (3rd Monday in January), Washington’s Birthday (3rd Monday in February), Mother’s Day (2nd Sunday in May), Armed Forces Day (3rd Saturday in May), Flag Day (June 14), Father’s Day (3rd Sunday in June), Independence Day, Labor Day, Constitution Day (September 17), Columbus Day (2nd Monday in October), National Election Day, and Veteran’s Day.    
  
On the following days, the U. S. flag should be flown at half-staff:  Peace Officer’s Memorial Day (May 15), Korean War Veteran’s Day (July 27), Patriot Day (September 11) and Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day (December 7).

The flag is displayed at half-staff as a sign of respect or mourning. Nationwide, this action is proclaimed by the president; state-wide, the proclamation is made by the governor. In addition, there is no prohibition against municipal governments, private businesses or citizens flying the flag at half-staff as a local sign of respect and mourning.

To properly fly the flag at half staff, the protocol is to first hoist it briskly to full staff, then reverently (slowly) lower it to half staff. Similarly, when the flag is to be lowered from half staff, it should be first hoisted briskly to full staff, then lowered reverently to the base of the flagpole.

The U.S. Flag Code lays out the proper etiquette for the use and display of the flag of the United States There are no penalties or punishments for violating the Flag Code,  The Flag Code is merely a general guide lines, and we have gathered a quick reference for the proper way to display the flag.

•   The flag represents a living country and is itself considered a living thing. Therefore, the lapel flag pin being a replica, should be worn on the left lapel near the heart.
•   The flag should be displayed sunup to sundown. If it is to be displayed at night it should be properly illuminated.
•   Also the flag should not be displayed in bad weather unless it is an All Weather Flag.
•   The U.S. flag should be the top flag when multiple flags are flown from the same staff.
•   When flags are displayed on adjacent staffs the U.S. flag should be raised first and lowered last with no other flags to its right.
•   In a procession or a parade the U.S. flag should be placed on its own right, or in the front of the procession.  On a parade float or any other vehicle the U.S. flag should be displayed on a staff attached to the vehicle.
•   The U.S. flag should never touch anything beneath it, such as the ground, the floor, water, or merchandise.
•   The U.S. 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.
•   Advertising signs should not be fastened to a staff or halyard from which the flag is flown.  The U.S. flag should never be used for advertising purposes in any manner whatsoever.
•   No part of the U.S. flag should ever be used as a costume or athletic uniform. However, a flag patch may be affixed to the uniform of military personnel, firemen, policemen, and members of patriotic organizations.

 
The copyright for all articles is held by the respective authors and/or The Garza Post. All rights reserved. Any publication, rewriting, or redistribution is prohibited without prior written permission.
 
blog comments powered by Disqus

 


Click for more!

 

 


Click for more!