Flag Raising Protocol
Consider several factors when displaying the flag of the United States. The flag must be in good condition. Inspect the flag regularly to detect any need for mending or cleaning. To raise the flag, you need a flag pole with a working halyard and clips. The halyard is the line to which you attach the flag to raise and lower it. Raise the flag in the morning and retire it at dusk unless it is lighted.
Other People Are Reading
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Position of the Flag Outdoors
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The U.S. flag is flown at government buildings and other public administration buildings. When other flags are displayed, they must be the same size or smaller than the U.S. flag. Only official flags of other countries and U.S. states may fly at the same height as this flag. In a group display, the U.S. flag is flown on the pole to the observer's left, and no flag is placed further left. The U.S. flag is raised first and lowered last when displayed with other flags.
Raising the Flag Procedure
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You need two people to raise the flag properly. One person physically raises it on the pole, the other holds the folded flag to ensure it does not touch the ground. The person raising the flag attaches it to the clips of the halyard and hoists the flag briskly to the top of the pole and fastens the halyard to the cleat on the side of the pole. Once the flag leaves the arms of the person assisting, he can step back and observe the raising of the flag. If this is a military setting, he will salute. Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts also salute at the flag's raising.
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Lowering the Flag
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Lowering the flag requires the teamwork of two people also. One person loosens the halyard from the cleat and lowers the flag slowly while the other person stands reverently, or saluting if military personnel. When the flag comes within reach, the helper steps forward to receive the flag in her hands and arms. Then the flag is detached from the halyard by the person lowering the flag. Now the flag is ready to be folded and stored until the next use.
The Flag in Mourning
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Raise the flag to the top then lower to half staff. When the president of the United States requires the flag to be flown at half staff, the flag is raised to the peak and then lowered to the half-staff position. Adjacent flags are hoisted to the top of their poles and lowered to half-staff, but a little lower than the U.S. flag. When the flags are retired for the evening, raise the flag to the peak of the pole and then lower it.
Special Conditions
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Do not display the flag in inclement weather if the flag is not waterproof. Fly the flag upside down to communicate an extreme emergency. A flag flown upside down is an internationally recognized sign of distress. At the United Nations, the U.S. flag is flown in alphabetical order per the U. N. protocol since technically the U.N. headquarters is owned by its members and not considered as on U.S. soil.
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References
Resources
- Photo Credit US Flag image by dwight9592 from Fotolia.com flag lowered to half staff . image by Tom Oliveira from Fotolia.com
