# Query on the American Flag

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/query-on-the-american-flag/122625>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [August 6, 2002, 4:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/query-on-the-american-flag/122625 "2002-08-06T16:07:33Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 5\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![yoyo3500](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/5daacb/32.png) [@yoyo3500](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/yoyo3500)\
**Post date:** [August 6, 2002, 4:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/query-on-the-american-flag/122625/1 "2002-08-06T16:07:33Z")

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😕

Query for the Teeming Millions:

Recently, I had been admiring a strikingly dramatic American flag recently installed on a New York City rooftop with a friend of mine, when he pointed out that the flag is not supposed to be hanging at night. However, he was unable to tell me if it was some sort of law, custom, superstition, etc. Now I had just recently purchaced a flag of my own and did not intend to take it down every night, so I don’t know what to do.

Please give me the straight dope!

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**Author:** ![postcards](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/8e8cbc/32.png) [@postcards](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/postcards)\
**Post date:** [August 6, 2002, 4:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/query-on-the-american-flag/122625/2 "2002-08-06T16:10:52Z")

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It must be **illuminated** at night.

Can’t cite the regs, tho.

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**Author:** ![CookingWithGas](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cookingwithgas/32/485_2.png) [@CookingWithGas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CookingWithGas)\
**Post date:** [August 6, 2002, 4:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/query-on-the-american-flag/122625/3 "2002-08-06T16:14:58Z")

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There is a [flag code](http://www.legion.org/our_flag/of_flag_code.htm) but it does not carry the force of law.

> [@](#):
>
> (a) It is the universal custom to display the flag only from sunrise to sunset on buildings and on stationary flag staffs 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.

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**Author:** ![yoyo3500](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/5daacb/32.png) [@yoyo3500](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/yoyo3500)\
**Post date:** [August 6, 2002, 4:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/query-on-the-american-flag/122625/4 "2002-08-06T16:27:27Z")

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This is great information. What exactly is the National Flag Conference? does the American Legion have the final word on this subject? Can a fellow get arrested for disobeying the Flag Code? (I guess probably not since a fellow can burn a flag and not be arrested…)

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**Author:** ![Isosleepy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/isosleepy/32/479_2.png) [@Isosleepy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Isosleepy)\
**Post date:** [August 6, 2002, 6:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/query-on-the-american-flag/122625/5 "2002-08-06T18:06:44Z")

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It isn’t law - just a matter of respect. Either respect for the flag and what it stands for, or respect for the people to whom that flag means a lot, or respect for the people to whom that flag and it’s associated values meant so much, they were prepared to give their lives for it.  
And please, when your flag gets frayed or faded, dispose of it properly. Don’t fly it.  
here’s the goods: [http://www.sar.org/colors/Flag-Act.htm](http://www.sar.org/colors/Flag-Act.htm)