- The U.S. flag should always be the first flag raised every morning and the last flag lowered every night. If you have any other flags (such as a state or city flag, the flag of a branch of the armed services, and the like), they cannot be any larger than the U.S. flag and must be flown below it. The only exception comes when the U.S. flag is displayed along with the flags of one or more nations -- each national flag should be the same size and raised to the same height as the others. The U.S. flag should be saluted whenever it is raised (usually at sunrise) and again whenever it is lowered (usually at sunset).
- When displayed somewhere other than a flag pole, the U.S. flag should be fully extended (either horizontally or vertically) and without wrinkles. The blue field of stars should always stand on the upper left-hand corner of the flag when presented. When hung over a street -- where people may approach it from different directions -- position the blue field on the northernmost side if the street runs east-west or the easternmost side if the street runs north-south.
- Folding the flag entails several carefully prepared steps which should be followed to the letter. Ideally, two people should participate in the folding. Fold the flag lengthwise, then lengthwise again, with the blue field on the bottom of the first fold and the top of the second. Then fold the striped end into a triangle, repeating the process until the flag has been completely folded into a triangle. A short length of material should be left over, which you can tuck into the folds in order to hold the flag in place. Under no circumstances should any part of the flag touch the ground.
- During periods of mourning, the flag is placed at half-mast: fully raised in the morning, then immediately dropped to half-mast until it is lowered at night. The flag is displayed at half-mast on Memorial Day until noon, then fully staffed for the remainder of the day. U.S. flags can also be placed over a casket, in which case they should be placed with the blue field covering the left shoulder of the deceased. Flags are never lowered into graves; instead, they should be folded up and presented to the deceased's next of kin.
