US Flag Etiquette in the Rain

The US Flag Code addresses the rules for flying flags, rain or shine.

US Flag etiquette is not just what people think is proper or respectful. There's an actual Flag Code written into the United States Code of Law that sets rules about how to treat every single US flag, including any flag in the rain.

US Flag Code

The United States Code, Title 36, Chapter 10 addresses the proper etiquette for treatment of the flag in inclement weather. It states, "The flag should not be displayed on days when the weather is inclement, except when an all weather flag is displayed."

Code Interpretation

The CRS report for Congress entitled "The United States Flag: Federal Law Relating to Display and Associated Questions" interprets the code for rain specifically. The report states, "It is not considered disrespectful to fly such a (synthetic fiber) flag even during prolonged periods of inclement weather."
Then it adds, "However, since the section speaks in terms of 'days when the weather is inclement,' it apparently does not contemplate that on an otherwise fair day, the flag should be lowered during brief periods of precipitation."

Dark Skies

Any time the skies get dark, including from approaching storms, the US flag should be lit. The congressional report on this aspect of flag treatment says, "It would seem that display of the flag in a respectful manner with appropriate lighting does not violate the spirit of the Flag Code since the dignity accorded to the flag is preserved by lighting that prevents its being enveloped in darkness."

History

The flag code of conduct for bad weather was adopted along with the other official rules of order for flag treatment on Flag Day, June 14, 1923. The official code was based on "Army and Navy procedures relating to display and associated questions about the US flag," according to USFlag.org.

Care of a Wet Flag

The Emily Post Institute for Etiquette says if a flag gets wet, the flag "should be hung smoothly until dry-never rolled or folded while still damp. Flags should be dry-cleaned, not washed."

References

• USFlag.org
• "The United States Flag: Federal Law Relating to Display and Associated Questions"
• Emily Post Institute for Etiquette