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The Flag Code |
The Flag Code
Title 4, United States Code, Chapter 1As Adopted
by the National Flag Conference, Washington, D.C.,
June 14-15, 1923, and Revised and Endorsed by the
Second National Flag Conference, Washington, D.C.,
May 15, 1924. Revised and adopted at P.L. 623, 77th
Congress, Second Session, June 22, 1942; as Amended
by P.L. 829, 77th Congress, Second Session, December
22, 1942; P.L. 107 83rd Congress, 1st Session, July
9, 1953; P.L. 396, 83rd Congress, Second Session,
June 14, 1954; P.L. 363, 90th Congress, Second
Session, June 28, 1968; P.L. 344, 94th Congress,
Second Session, July 7, 1976; P.L. 322, 103rd
Congress, Second Session, September 13, 1994; P.L.
225, 105th Congress, Second Session, August 12,
1998; and P.L. 80, 106th Congress, First Session,
October 25, 1999.
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Pledge Allegiance |
"I pledge allegiance"
(I promise to be true)
"to the flag"
(to the symbol of our country)
"of the United States of America"
(each state that has joined to make our country)
"and to the Republic"
(a republic is a country where the people choose
others to make laws for them
-- the government is for the people)
"for which it stands,"
(the flag means the country)
"one Nation"
(a single country)
"under God,"
(the people believe in a supreme being)
"indivisible,"
(the country cannot be split into parts)
"with liberty and justice"
(with freedom and fairness)
"for all."
(for each person in the country...you and me!)
The pledge says you are promising to be true to the
United States of America! |
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History of the Pledge |
The original Pledge of Allegiance was written by
Francis Bellamy. It was first given wide publicity
through the official program of the National Public
Schools Celebration of Columbus Day which was
printed in The Youth's Companion of September 8,
1892, and at the same time sent out in leaflet form
to schools throughout the country. School children
first recited the Pledge of Allegiance this way:
"I pledge allegiance to my Flag and to the
Republic for which it stands one Nation indivisible,
with Liberty and Justice for all."
"The flag of the United States" replaced the
words "my Flag" in 1923 because some foreign-born
people might have in mind the flag of the country of
their birth instead of the United States flag. A
year later, "of America" was added after "United
States."
No form of the Pledge received official
recognition by Congress until June 22, 1942, when
the Pledge was formally included in the U.S. Flag
Code. The official name of The Pledge of Allegiance
was adopted in 1945. The last change in language
came on Flag Day 1954, when Congress passed a law,
which added the words "under God" after "one
nation."
Originally, the pledge was said with the right
hand in the so-called "Bellamy Salute," with the
right hand resting first outward from the chest,
then the arm extending out from the body. Once
Hitler came to power in Europe, some Americans were
concerned that this position of the arm and hand
resembled the Nazi or Fascist salute. In 1942
Congress also established the current practice of
rendering the pledge with the right hand over the
heart.
The Flag Code specifies that any future changes
to the pledge would have to be with the consent of
the President.
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Disposal |
History of the Ceremony for the Disposal of
Unserviceable Flags
The Ceremony for Disposal of Unserviceable Flags was
approved through Resolution No.440, by the National
Convention of The American Legion meeting in New
York, New York, September 20-23, 1937, and has been
an integral part of American Legion ritual since
that date. The resolution reads as follows:
WHEREAS, Americanism has been and should continue
to be one of the major programs of The American
Legion; and
WHEREAS, The observance of proper respect for the
Flag of our country and the education of our
citizenry in the proper courtesies to be paid the
Flag is an essential element of such Americanism
program; and
WHEREAS, It is fitting and proper that Flags
which have been used for the decoration of graves on
Memorial Day be collected after such service,
inspected, and worn and unserviceable Flags be
condemned and properly destroyed; and
WHEREAS, The approved method of disposing of
unserviceable Flags has long been that they be
destroyed by burning, but no ritual for such
destruction or ceremony in connection therewith has
been adopted by The American Legion or included in
its official manual of Ceremonies; therefore be it
RESOLVED, By The American Legion in National
Convention assembled in New York City, September
20-23, 1937, that the ritual submitted herewith be
adopted for use by The American Legion and that it
be made the official ceremony for the destruction of
unserviceable American Flags and to be included as
such in the Manual of Ceremonies, Revised, of The
American Legion.
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How to fold |
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Procedures for Folding the Flag
There are no Flag Code provisions which
require any method, however, the following
is traditional:
(a) Straighten out the flag to full length
and fold lengthwise once.
(b) Fold it lengthwise a second time to meet
the open edge, making sure that the union of
stars on the blue field remains outward in
full view. (A large flag may have to be
folded lengthwise a third time.)
(c) A triangular fold is then started by
bringing the striped corner of the folded
edge to the open edge
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When to fly The Flag |
The flag can be displayed on all days, but in
particular it should be flown on:
• New
Year's Day, January 1
• Inauguration
Day, January 20
• Lincoln's
Birthday, February 12
• Washington's
Birthday, third Monday in February
• Easter
Sunday (variable)
• Mother's
Day, second Sunday in May
• Armed
Forces Day, third Saturday in May
• Memorial
Day (half-staff until noon), the last Monday in May
• Flag
Day, June 14
• Independence
Day, July 4
• Labor
Day, first Monday in September
• Constitution
Day, September 17
• Columbus
Day, second Monday in October
• Navy
Day, October 27
• Veterans
Day, November 11
• Thanksgiving
Day, fourth Thursday in November
• Christmas
Day, December 25
• Other
days as may be proclaimed by the President of the
United States
• The
birthdays of States (date of admission)
• State
holidays
On Memorial Day, the flag should be hung at
half-staff until noon, then it should be raised to
the top of the staff.
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Flag Etiquette |
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Patriot Day
Patriot Day has been added. to the Flag
Holidays listed in section 174 of the US
Flag Code. On December 18, 2001, President
Bush signed Public Law No: 107-89,
designating September 11th as Patriot Day.
State and local governments and the people
of the United States are asked to observe
Patriot Day with appropriate programs and
activities to honor the individuals who lost
their lives as a result of the terrorist
attacks on that date in 2001. |
The day has
also been designated as a day that the US
flag should be flown at half-staff from
sunrise to sundown, not just until noon as
is done on Memorial Day. In addition the
people of the United States are asked to
observe a moment of silence on Patriot Day
in remembrance of the victims.
Many people have asked if Government
offices, schools, banks, etc. will be closed
on that day. We don’t have that information
at this time but as decisions are made we
will keep you informed.
Patriot Day should not be confused with
Patriot’s Day, a regional holiday celebrated
in New England on the third Monday in April
which commemorates Paul Revere’s ride and
the battle of Lexington & Concord during the
Revolutionary War. The Boston Marathon is
run on Patriot’s Day every year. For a copy
of the Public Law, visit the National Flag
Foundation at
www.americanflags.org.
Flag Etiquette
The National Flag represents the living
country and is considered to be a living
thing emblematic of the respect and pride we
have for our nation. Display it proudly.
STANDARDS OF RESPECT
The Flag Code,
which formalizes and unifies the traditional
ways in which we give respect to the flag,
also contains specific instructions on how
the flag is not to be used. They are:
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The flag should never be dipped to any
person or thing. It is flown upside down
only as a distress signal.
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The flag should not be used as a
drapery, or for covering a speakers
desk, draping a platform, or for any
decoration in general. Bunting of blue,
white and red stripes is available for
these purposes. The blue stripe of the
bunting should be on the top.
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The flag should never be used for any
advertising purpose. It should not be
embroidered, printed or otherwise
impressed on such articles as cushions,
handkerchiefs, napkins, boxes, or
anything intended to be discarded after
temporary use. Advertising signs should
not be attached to the staff or halyard.
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The flag should not be used as part of a
costume or athletic uniform, except that
a flag patch may be used on the uniform
of military personnel, fireman,
policeman and members of patriotic
organizations.
The flag should never have placed on it,
or attached to it, any mark, insignia,
letter, word, number, figure, or drawing
of any kind.
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The flag should never be used as a
receptacle for receiving, holding,
carrying, or delivering anything.
When
the flag is lowered, no part of it should
touch the ground or any other object; it
should be received by waiting hands and
arms. To store the flag it should be folded
neatly and ceremoniously.
The
flag should be cleaned and mended when
necessary.
When
a flag is so worn it is no longer fit to
serve as a symbol of our country, it should
be destroyed by burning in a dignified
manner.
Note: Most American Legion Posts
regularly conduct a dignified flag burning
ceremony, often on Flag Day, June 14th.
Contact your local American Legion Hall and
inquire about the availability of this
service.
DISPLAYING THE FLAG OUTDOORS
When
the flag is displayed from a staff
projecting from a window, balcony, or a
building, the union should be at the peak of
the staff unless the flag is at half staff.
When
it is displayed from the same flagpole with
another flag - of a state, community,
society or Scout unit - the flag of the
United States must always be at the top
except that the church pennant may be flown
above the flag during church services for
Navy personnel when conducted by a Naval
chaplain on a ship at sea.
When
the flag is displayed over a street, it
should be hung vertically, with the union to
the north or east. If the flag is suspended
over a sidewalk, the flag's union should be
farthest from the building.
When
flown with flags of states, communities, or
societies on separate flag poles which are
of the same height and in a straight line,
the flag of the United States is always
placed in the position of honor - to its own
right. The other flags may be smaller but
none may be larger. No other flag ever
should be placed above it. The flag of the
United States is always the first flag
raised and the last to be lowered.
When
flown with the national banner of other
countries, each flag must be displayed from
a separate pole of the same height. Each
flag should be the same size. They should be
raised and lowered simultaneously. The flag
of one nation may not be displayed above
that of another nation.
RAISING AND LOWERING THE FLAG
The
flag should be raised briskly and lowered
slowly and ceremoniously. Ordinarily it
should be displayed only between sunrise and
sunset. It should be illuminated if
displayed at night. The flag of the United
States of America is saluted as it is
hoisted and lowered. The salute is held
until the flag is unsnapped from the halyard
or through the last note of music, whichever
is the longest.
DISPLAYING THE FLAG INDOORS
When on
display, the flag is accorded the place of
honor, always positioned to its own right.
Place it to the right of the speaker or
staging area or sanctuary. Other flags
should be to the left.
The
flag of the United States of America should
be at the center and at the highest point of
the group when a number of flags of states,
localities, or societies are grouped for
display.
When
one flag is used with the flag of the United
States of America and the staffs are
crossed, the flag of the United States is
placed on its own right with its staff in
front of the other flag.
When
displaying the flag against a wall,
vertically or horizontally, the flag's union
(stars) should be at the top, to the flag's
own right, and to the observer's left.
PARADING AND SALUTING THE FLAG
When
carried in a procession, the flag should be
to the right of the marchers. When other
flags are carried, the flag of the United
States may be centered in front of the
others or carried to their right. When the
flag passes in a procession, or when it is
hoisted or lowered, all should face the flag
and salute.
THE SALUTE
To
salute, all persons come to attention. Those
in uniform give the appropriate formal
salute. Citizens not in uniform salute by
placing their right hand over the heart and
men with head cover should remove it and
hold it to left shoulder, hand over the
heart. Members of organizations in formation
salute upon command of the person in charge.
THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE AND NATIONAL
ANTHEM
The
pledge of allegiance should be rendered by
standing at attention, facing the flag, and
saluting. When the national anthem is played
or sung, citizens should stand at attention
and salute at the first note and hold the
salute through the last note. The salute is
directed to the flag, if displayed,
otherwise to the music.
THE FLAG IN MOURNING
To
place the flag at half staff, hoist it to
the peak for an instant and lower it to a
position half way between the top and bottom
of the staff. The flag is to be raised again
to the peak for a moment before it is
lowered. On Memorial Day, the flag is
displayed at half staff until noon and at
full staff from noon to sunset.
The
flag is to be flown at half staff in
mourning for designated, principal
government leaders and upon presidential or
gubernatorial order.
When
used to cover a casket, the flag should be
placed with the union at the head and over
the left shoulder. It should not be lowered
into the grave.
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