How to Raise and Fold the Texas Flag

The Texas state flag is the national flag of the Republic of Texas, adopted on January 24, 1839. The Lone Star flag, designed by William Wharton, has flown over Texas since then and is considered the fourth of Texas’s 6 national flags. Here are specific rules for raising, hanging, saluting and folding the Texas flag.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Texas flag
• Flagpole

Raising the Texas Flag

1. According to the flag code, the Texas flag “shall be hoisted briskly and lowered ceremoniously.”

2. Raise the flag with the blue field against the flagpole and the white stripe at the top, except in the case of a life and death emergency. If you are in mortal danger, hang the flag upside down.

3. The flag should always be allowed to wave free. It should be displayed with appropriate lighting if out after dark, and should not be flown in inclement weather.

4. Fly only the United States flag above the Texas flag on a single flagpole. It is recommended that the Texas flag have its own flagpole of equal height to the United States flag.

5. Stand with your right hand over your heart and your hat removed while the Texas flag is being raised.

6. Recite the Texas Pledge of Allegiance once the flag has reached the top of the flagpole: "Honor the Texas flag; I pledge allegiance to thee, Texas, one state under God, one and indivisible."

7. If you have also raised the United States flag, recite the Pledge of Allegiance to the United States flag first, then recite the Texas Pledge of Allegiance. If you are not a citizen of Texas, please remain standing, while the pledge is recited.

8. When taking down the flag, do it slowly and with reverence. When it reaches the bottom of the flagpole, don’t let it touch the ground. Then it should be folded.

Folding the Texas Flag

9. 

   Fold the flag in half lengthwise with the red stripe on the top.

10. 

    Fold it in half lengthwise again, making sure the red stripe in on the inside.

11. 

    Beginning at the blue field, fold the corner up. The folded edge will meet the open edge forming a triangle.

12. 

    Continue folding the corner over in triangles.

13. 

    Keep folding until you have a white triangle package.

14. Store the flag in a place where it will not get torn or soiled.

Tips & Warnings

• March second is Texas Flag Day, which is also Texas Independence day.
• Folding of the Texas flag is not set forth by law. However, the Sergeant at Arms in Austin folds the flags that fly over the capitol building in this manner.
• Never allow a flag to touch the ground.

Resources

• Texas Flag Code
• Governor's FAQs

[mikelambert2]

on 8/30/2009 The new Law as of September 1, 2009 is a different procedure for folding the texas Flas.


S.B. No. 1145




AN ACT


relating to protocol for folding the state flag.


BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:


SECTION 1. This Act shall be known as the Rod Welsh Act, in


honor of Rod Welsh, Sergeant-at-Arms of the Texas House of


Representatives, who is primarily responsible for developing the


method of folding the state flag of Texas established by this Act.


SECTION 2. Subchapter B, Chapter 3100, Government Code, is


amended by adding Section 3100.073 to read as follows:


Sec. 3100.073. FOLDED STATE FLAG. (a) The state flag


should be folded as follows:


(1) fold the flag in half lengthwise with the red


stripe facing upward;


(2) fol...