How to Display the American Flag

The US flag, nicknamed the Stars and Stripes, represents the history of the United States. The blue represents the sky, or heavens, that watch over the fifty states, symbolized by the fifty white stars. The blue and white portion of the flag is also called “The Union” and can stand alone as the “Union Jack”, flown on maritime vessels.

The thirteen red and white stripes represent the thirteen original colonies of the United States. The red represents the blood that was shed for freedom from the United Kingdom and the white represents the purity of US liberty from her mother country.

As a symbol of America, the flag must be flown and displayed properly.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Flag pole with halyard and clips
• An American Flag
• Wall or flat surface and nails, hooks or pins for hanging

Display the Flag on a Flag Pole

1. Silently approach the flagpole or staff, with the flag folded so that only stars can be seen. The American flag always approaches first.

2. Begin to unfold the flag until the rivet in the upper left corner is accessible.

3. Attach the rivet to the halyard with the halyard clip.

4. Raise the halyard and the flag just until the next rivet and halyard clip are accessible.

5. Attach the next rivet to the halyard clip. Repeat until the final rivet and halyard clip are connected.

6. Hoist the flag quickly until it reaches the top of the flagpole. If it is a half-staff day, raise the flag completely to the top quickly, then lower it half-way slowly.

7. Lower the flag slowly and silently before sundown or in bad weather.

8. Fold the flag into a triangle. See the link in the Resources section below for instructions on folding the flag properly.

Display the Flag Indoors or on a Flat Surface

9. Place the flag so the stars are in the upper left corner.

10. Tack onto a wall or flat surface, either vertically or horizontally, with nails, pins or hooks placed through the rivets.

11. Ensure the hooks or pins you use to hang the flag will hold its weight.

Tips & Warnings

• One way to remember which way to situate the flag is to say its nickname—“The Stars and Stripes”. The stars should always be on the upper left side of the flag.
• Do not fly any flag above or at a higher point than the US flag.
• Do not burn a flag just because it touches the ground. Instead, take steps to avoid it from happening again.
• All flags should be properly retired by a VFW, American Legion or Armed Forces service location. They should never just be thrown away.