Etiquette - How To Hang The American Flag

American Flag Honor and Respect

Only display an American flag that is in respectable condition. A torn or tattered flag should not be displayed, and an American flag should not be flown in inclement weather that could damage it.

It is appropriate to fly the American flag on any day given good weather. On Memorial Day, it is customary to fly the flag at half-staff until noon. When protocol demands raising the flag to half mast, first raise the flag to the peak of the pole and then lower it to its half mast position.

It is only proper to display the flag from sunrise to sunset, unless it is illuminated overnight.

When hanging the American flag from a window or draped from the edge of a building, always hang the flag vertically with the field of stars to the left of anyone viewing it.

When a flag is hung behind a speaker for a speech, it should be placed flat against the wall. It is important that the flag not touch any other object or the ground.

When an American Flag is mounted on a pole, it should always be presented to the speaker's right (the audience’s left).

Also, always hang the American flag above any other flag on the same pole.

The American flag should be at the center and highest point if displayed with other flags.

An American flag when carried in a ceremony or parade with other flags, should be either on the marching right, or if there is a line of other flags, in front and center of that line.

As a sign of respect to our country and our flag it is proper to place one’s hand over heart during a parade or during a flag raising or lowering ceremony. Servicemen and women should give the military salute.

An American flag should only be hung upside down to signal an emergency or distress.