The MAtH (man about the house) and I are happy to see Dianne Isbell turn her column in the Belleville News-Democrat over to discussing flag etiquette on this Memorial Day.
Me: Dianne gets a question from a reader asking, "Would you please remind people who display our American flag on a
regular basis that it is to be flown at half-staff until noon on
Memorial Day? Also, would you please give the proper manner in which to
do it?"
MAtH: Good question. Does she say how you're
supposed to do that if the home flag is in a bracket on the house
rather than up on a pole?
Me: No, and I haven't been able to find any information on how to do that.
MAtH: You know, I don't think I realized flags should be at half-staff until noon on Memorial Day.
Me: I bet most people don't unless they are in charge of the flag poles where they work or are in government offices.
MAtH: So what does Dianne say?
Me: Yes, in accordance with U.S. Code, Title 4, Chapter 1, Section 7(m),
the flag should be displayed at half-staff until noon. The proper
manner in which to do this is to, at dawn, on the morning of Memorial
Day, raise the flag quickly to the top of the flagpole. Then, keep it
there momentarily and slowly, repeat slowly, to halfway down the pole.
At noon at your home raise the flag back up to the top of the flag
pole. I emphasize "noon at your home" because I had a reader ask me if
it is noon, Washington, D.C., time because of the fact that the Capitol
is there and the President's office. No, it is noon where you live and
where your flag is being displayed.
MAtH: Well, we don't have a pole so what does that mean for us?
Me: I can't find any information on how flags in
brackets fixed to a porch or house front apply. They aren't really
made to be put at half-staff so I guess they stay the way they are.
But, flag rules say: When the flag of the United States is displayed from a staff
projecting horizontally or at an angle from the window sill, balcony,
or front of a building, the union of the flag should be placed at the
peak of the staff unless the flag is at half-staff. Uh oh, "unless the flag is at half-staff".
MAtH: Ours is already out and I don't think there is any way to move it down, there are no holes in the pole.
Me: But it looks right according to the rules
MAtH: What about the big flags which get hung on buildings? Are the stars to the left as you look at them or to the right?
Me: To the left. "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 it should be displayed in
the same way, that is with the union or blue field to the left of the
observer in the street."
MAtH: And, what about putting small flags in the ground or in planters?
Me: I see nothing about that in the Flag Rules and
Regulations, but I think we can take our cue from the American Legion
and the VFW in Collinsville. They know the rules and they always put
small flags in the ground and in pots around their monuments on
Memorial day.
MAtH: I put flags out all around the campus this morning, I'm glad to hear it is ok the way I did it.
Me: But, it it starts raining, we have to get them taken down. The U.S. History website
has a very complete explanation of flag rules and etiquette including a
few examples of violations which are interesting. Flags should not be
worn as apparel, or as carpet decoration which can be stood on, nor
flown or carried upside down, or written on, etc.
MAtH: Good information, now, what's the protocol about saluting or having a hand over the heart when a flag passes?
Me: People in uniform salute, people not in
uniform but wearing some type of cap should take the cap off with the
right hand and bring the cap over to the left shoulder and hold it
there until the flag goes by or the Pledge of Allegiance has been
said. All others put a hand over the heart.
MAtH: Dianne went through all of this?
Me: No, she stuck to the one question about the
flag at half-staff, but the rest came from the U.S. History site. A
good site to bookmark.
