Old Glory - Our American Flag

    The Stars and Stripes Forever. The American Flag for 200 years has been the symbol of our nations strength and unity. The American Flag is a source of pride and inspiration for millions of citizens. The American Flag has been a prominent icon in our national history. The Continental Congress in 1776 passed the first Flag Act. "Resolved, that the American Flag of the United States be made of thirteen stripes, alternating red and white; that the union be thirteen stars, white in a blue field, representing a new constellation".
    Today the American Flag consists of thirteen horizontal stripes, seven red, alternating with six white. The stripes represents the original thirteen colonies, the stars represent the 50 states of the union. The American Flag colors are symbolic as well, Red symbolizes Hardiness and Valor, White symbolizes Purity and Innocence and Blue represents Vigilance, Perseverance and Justice.
    Some believe the red stripes symbolize England and the white stripes represent America's separation from its mother country. Other say red symbolize the blood spilled in the defense of our nation, the white signify the burning tears by Americans who have lost loved ones defending our country and the blue God's heaven above us.
    The American Flag is known around the World like no other.
    Act of January 13, 1794 - provided for 15 stripes and 15 stars after May 1795.
    Act of April 4, 1818 - provided for 13 stripes and one star for each state, to be added to the flag on the 4th of July following the admission of each new state, signed by President Monroe.
    Executive Order of President Taft dated June 24, 1912 - standardized the flag, it established proportions of the flag and provided for arrangement of the stars in six horizontal rows of eight each, a single point of each star to be upward.
    Executive Order of President Eisenhower dated January 3, 1959 - provided for the arrangement of the stars in seven rows of seven stars each, staggered horizontally and vertically.
    Executive Order of President Eisenhower dated August 21, 1959 - provided for the arrangement of the stars in nine rows of stars staggered horizontally and eleven rows of stars staggered vertically.
    When new states are admitted to the Union, stars are added on the following Independence Day.
    Old Glory is older than our Constitution!

Flag Etiquette

It is our universal custom to display the Flag only from sunrise to sunset on stationary flagstaffs in the open. The Flag should be hoisted briskly and lowered ceremoniously.

The Flag, when carried in a procession with another flag or flags, should be either on the marching right, that is, the Flag's own right, or, if there is a line of other flags, in front of the center of the line.

The Flag should not be displayed on a float in a parade except from a staff.

No other Flag or pennant should be placed above or, if on the same level, to the right of the Flag of the United States of America, except during church services conducted by naval Chaplains at sea, when the church pennant may be flown above the Flag during church services for the personnel of the Navy.

The Flag of the United States of America, when it is displayed with another flag against a wall from crossed staffs, should be on the right, the Flag's own right and its staff should be in front of the staff of the other flag. 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 or localities or pennants of societies are grouped and displayed from staffs.

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.

When the Flag is displayed over the middle of the street, it should be suspended vertically with the union to the north in an east and west street, or to the east in a north and south street.

When used on a speaker's platform, the Flag, if displayed flat, should be displayed above and behind the speaker. When displayed from a staff in a church or public auditorium, the Flag of the United States of America should hold the position of superior prominence, in advance of the audience, and in the position of honor at the clergyman's or speaker's right as he faces the audience. Any other flag so displayed should be placed on the left of the clergyman or speaker or to the right of the audience.

The Flag should form a distinctive feature of the ceremony of unveiling a statue or monument, but it should never be used as a covering for a statue or monument.

The Flag when flown at half-staff should be first hoisted to the peak for an instant and then lowered to the half-staff position. The Flag should be again raised to the peak before it is lowered for the day. On Memorial Day, the Flag should be displayed at half-staff until noon only, then raised to the top of the staff.

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.

Respect for the Flag. No disrespect should be shown to the Flag of the United States of America; the Flag should not be dipped to any person or thing. Regimental colors, state flags, and organizational or institutional flags are to be dipped as a mark of honor.

The Flag should never be displayed with the union down, except as a signal of the dire distress in instances of extreme danger to life or property.

The Flag should never touch anything beneath it, such as the ground, the floor, water, or merchandise.

The Flag should never be carried flat or horizontally, but always aloft and free.

Bunting of blue, white and red, always arranged with the blue above, the white in the middle, and the red below, should be used for covering a speaker's desk, draping in front of the platform, and for decoration in general.

The Flag should never be used for advertising purposes in any manner whatsoever.

No part of the Flag should ever be used as a custom or athletic uniform. However, a Flag patch may be affixed to the uniform of military personnel, firemen, and members of patriotic organizations. The Flag represents a living country and is itself considered as a living thing. Therefore, the lapel Flag being a replica, should be worn on the left lapel near the heart.

The Flag, when it is in such condition that it is no longer a fitting emblem for display, should be destroyed in a dignified way, preferably by burning.

Hoisting, lowering or passing of the Flag. During the ceremony of hoisting or lowering the Flag, or when the Flag is passing in a parade or in review, all persons present except those in uniform should face the Flag and stand at attention with the right hand over the heart. Those present in uniform should render the military salute. When not in uniform, men should remove their headdress with their right hand and hold it at the left shoulder, the hand being over the heart. Aliens should stand at attention. The salute to the Flag in a moving column should be rendered at the moment the Flag passes.

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