In the US Code, Title 36, Chapter 10, Paragraph 175 “Position and manner of display [of the US Flag]”:
*(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. *
Basically, the union (blue field with stars) should always be in the upper left as an observer is looking at the flag.
But during the recent wave of patriotism by born-again Americans, I’ve seen many flags flown vertically with the union to the upper right, as they just took a normal horizontal positioning and rotated it 90[sup]o[/sup]. This is wrong according to the Code section I quoted.
However, I’ve also heard that intentional mishanging of a flag is supposed to be a sign of distress.
So, are the mishung flags:
[ul]
[li]mistakenly done so[/li][li]a substitute for hanging half-staff, since they’re not on a staff[/li][li]a sign of distress, either national empathy or that they knew one of the victims of last week’s terror attacks?[/li][/ul]
Yep, I’ve seen many properly hung vertical flags and many improper ones. I’d say it’s about 50/50 where I live (Queens, NYC).
I’m guessing it’s just a matter of not everyone having such a thorough education in the traditions of heraldry as we. ( ) so they take a horizontal flag and rotate it, not knowing any better.
Doesn’t matter tho - it’s the thought that counts.
The Union will appear on your right if it is a flag covering a casket:
"Sec. 175. Position and manner of display
a… (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."
As for a signal of distress:
"Sec. 176. Respect for flag
a… (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."
As for the OP, it’s likely just a case of good intention, but not realizing how the flag is to be displayed. That also goes for people who drape a flag across the hood of their car.
I think this is the traditions for most flags that incorporate a union in the upper left. For example, I believe I have seen flags that have British Union Jacks hung vertically with the union on the left.
I will agree that the incorrect flag hanging is the result of lack of education, rather than intent.
But still, this kinda bothers me. I hate to see flags hung wrongly, or at night without lights or in the rain. If you care enough to use the symbol, then you should care enough to do it right. People who burn American flags in protest are showing more respect for the symbol of the flag than people who tie them on their cars and then speed down the freeways. Sorry for the semi-rant, but this is one of my easily-pushed buttons.
It’s funny, I was not a kid so long ago, and I very distinctly remember all kinds of very serious rules about how the flag should be folded and that no flag should ever touch the ground, but not too many people seem to remember all that stuff these days. I see people mishandling the flag in all kinds of ways, and not with any kind of malicious intent. Folks just don’t know the rules anymore, and don’t seem to be aware of the fact that there are any rules about this sort of thing.
My opinion, though, is that it’s nice to see people rallying around our national symbol and that unity and the intent involved are way more important than whether the blue field is on the right or left side or whether the flag was properly folded into an equilateral triangle when it was stored.
I’m glad to see people’s renewed interest in flying the flag, and I’m willing to cut a little slack, but not much. When I was in the sixth grade (~1978), my friend and I had the job of raising the school flag in the morning and taking it down after school. We knew to not let it touch the ground, and we folded it properly. My parents had neighbors who flew their flag day and night, unlit, in all weather. One night we had an ice storm and awoke to find shreds of their faded flag embedded in the inch of ice that covered our cars, the sidewalk, etc.
The violation I’ve seen a lot of that pisses me off is seeing the US flag at half-staff while adjacent flags remain at full staff. The most egregious example I saw was three flagpoles – one with the US flag at half-staff and the state flag and a Green Bay Packer flag at full staff. (For those who are confused, no flag should fly above the US flag. If it is at half-staff, all other adjacent flags must be lowered also.)
I’m willing to bet that the number of people who properly raise the flag to full staff before lowering it to half or taking it down for the day is fairly low as well.
Come on, folks, if you care enough to fly the flag, take care to do it correctly.
Are baseball teams patriotic organizations?I heard on the radio that all baseball players are to wear the flag on their uniform this season. What of the Canadian teams?
Not quite on point, but adding to what Elvis and Scarlett said…
I was at a fast food restaurant the other day, waiting for my order. One of the teens employed there was asked to take down the flag and fold it right. He looked astonished and asked, quite sincerely, whether there was a “right” way to fold the American flag. I was about to offer to fold it with him, but his supervisor explained the proper folding method to him. It surprised me that someone could be in his last two years of high school and not have learned how to fold his country’s flag.
I thought I was aware of the rules for properly flying a flag. However this morning my young teenage son pointed out that as the flag flies in front of the entry to our home, I should not have shut off the entry light when I went to bed last night, unless I brought in the flag.
Decades ago, when flags were made of a fabric (customarily cotton) that was much less durable than the current nylon versions the intent was to preserve the life of the flag by lowering it in inclimate weather conditions such as rain and high winds.
Well… that too 'Uigi, but it is also a gesture of respect. Imagine your flag is that grandparent you love and respect, but is now disabled. In nice weather you set his/her chair out on the porch, in the rain he/she stays inside and you bring him/her in after dark. You don’t leave the flag out in any weather you wouldn’t leave your beloved grandparent in.
I never learned flag protocol in school, I learned in the girl scouts.
Certainly, taking down the flag during bad weather is very respectful, but it would appear to be unnecessary as far as strictly following etiquette goes. Does the US military lower flags during rainstorms?
As far as flying the flag at night, I’m not a superpatriot, but I agree with the attitude that if you’re going to do it, do it right. Seeing businesses, especially, (which I cynically assume only want to stir patriotic feelings in me so I will patronize them) flying the flag at night without illumination or, worse, a badly tattered flag really irks me, and I’ve often wondered what others think about it. Yeah, the intent is there, but the act of flying a flag is purely symbolic (in a good sense), so if you mess up the symbolism, it’s rather pointless, no?
) so they take a horizontal flag and rotate it, not knowing any better.