THE FLAG
OF
THE UNITED STATES
OVERVIEW
 HISTORY OF THE U.S. FLAG
– DEVELOPMENT
– MEANINGS OF COLORS, SYMBOLS
– MAKEUP OF CURRENT U.S. FLAG
 DISPLAY/HANDLING OF THE U.S. FLAG
– WHEN TO DISPLAY
– HOW TO DISPLAY
– PROPER CARE/HANDLING (RESPECT)
GRAND UNION FLAG
DEVELOPMENT OF THE FLAG
 GRAND UNION FLAG - 1775
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13 STRIPES (FOR 13 ORIGINAL COLONIES)
CROSS IN UPPER LEFT CORNER
UNOFFICIAL NATIONAL FLAG UNTIL 1777
CAMBRIDGE FLAG OR CONGRESS COLORS
PRESENT AT MOST BATTLES PRIOR TO 1777
DEVELOPMENT OF THE FLAG
 ON JUNE 14, 1777, 2ND CONTINENTAL
CONGRESS AUTHORIZED A NEW FLAG
– 13 STRIPES, ALTERNATE RED AND WHITE
– 13 STARS ON A BLUE BACKGROUND
BETSY ROSS FLAG
Designers and Patriots
 SEVERAL FLAGMAKERS
– BETSY ROSS BEST KNOWN
– HER DESIGN MOST RECOGNIZED
 13 STARS IN A CIRCLE ON THE BLUE
BACKGROUND
 REBECCA YOUNG AND CORNELIA
BRIDGES
DEVELOPMENT OF THE FLAG
 IN 1794, CONGRESS PASSED A NEW FLAG
LAW
– TWO (2) NEW STATES (KENTUCKY AND VERMONT)
– 15 STRIPES, 15 STARS
– INSPIRED FRANCIS SCOTT KEY TO WRITE THE
STAR SPANGLED BANNER ON A BRITISH SHIP
NEAR FT MCHENRY
STAR SPANGLED BANNER
FLAG
DEVELOPMENT OF THE FLAG
 IN 1818, PRES. MONROE PASSED A NEW
FLAG LAW
– 13 STRIPES, ALTERNATE RED, WHITE
– WHITE STARS ON A BLUE BACKGROUND
FOR THE STATES
 ADD A STAR TO THE FLAG AS NEW STATES
WERE ADDED TO THE UNION
 MINOR REVISIONS TO BACKGROUND
DUE TO INCREASE IN STATES
MEANING OF THE COLORS
AND SYMBOLS
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STARS: NUMBER OF STATES
STRIPES: 13 ORIGINAL COLONIES
RED: HARDNESS, VALOR
WHITE: PURITY, INNOCENCE
BLUE:VIGILANCE, JUSTICE,
PERSEVERANCE
TODAY’S U.S. FLAG
 13 ALTERNATING RED AND WHITE STRIPES
– 7 RED, 6 WHITE
 UNION:
– BLUE FIELD EXTENDING TO THE 4TH RED STRIPE
– CONTAINS WHITE 5-POINTED STARS
 50 WHITE STARS (50 STATES) WITH THE ADDITION
OF ALASKA AND HAWAII
 FIRST FLOWN AT FT MCHENRY JULY4, 1960
 FLAG OF LIBERATION
TODAY’S FLAG
WHEN TO DISPLAY
 NORMALLY, SUNRISE TO SUNSET ON BUILDINGS AND
FLAGPOLES
 CAN BE DISPLAYED 24 HOURS FOR PATRIOTIC
EFFECT
– REQUIRES AN ALL-WEATHER FLAG
– MUST BE ILLUMINATED IN HOURS OF DARKNESS (BY A LAW
ENACTED ON JULY 7, 1960
 CAN BE DISPLAYED DURING BAD WEATHER
– REQUIRES AN ALL-WEATHER FLAG
WHEN TO DISPLAY
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New Years Day
Inauguration Day
Martin Luther King Day
Lincoln’s Birthday
President’s Day
Easter Sunday
Mother’s Day
Armed Forces Day
Memorial Day
WHEN TO DISPLAY
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Flag Day
Independence Day
Labor day
Constitution Day
Columbus Day
Navy Day
Veteran’s Day
Thanksgiving Day
Christmas Day
WHEN TO DISPLAY
 DISPLAYED AS DIRECTED BY THE PRESIDENT
OF THE UNITED STATES
 DISPLAYED DAILY NEAR PUBLIC BUILDINGS
 DISPLAYED AT VOTING BOOTHS ON
ELECTION DAYS
 DISPLAYED DAILY IN OR NEAR
SCHOOLHOUSES
HOW TO DISPLAY THE FLAG
 IN A PROCESSION OR A PARADE
– CARRIED ON THE MARCHING RIGHT
– CENTER FRONT OF A LINE OF FLAGS
 NEVER DRAPED OVER A CAR, TRAIN, BOAT
ON A CAR, FRONT RIGHT ON
FENDER/CHASSIS
 NO FLAG CARRIED HIGHER OR TO THE
RIGHT
 EXCEPTION: CHURCH SERVICES AT SEA. CHURCH
PENNANT MAY BE FLOWNABOVE FLAG DURING
SERVICES
HOW TO DISPLAY THE FLAG
 STATIONARY (OFFICES, CEREMONIES,
BUILDINGS) NO FLAG FLOWN HIGHER EXCEPTION:
UNITED NATIONS FLAG AT UN HQ
 DISPLAY FLAT OR HANGING FROM A STAFF
 CROSSED STAFFS: U.S.FLAG IN FRONT,
OBSERVERS LEFT
 DISPLAY AT HIGHEST POINT IN A GROUP OF
FLAGS OF DIFFERENT STATES OR SOCIETIES
HOW TO DISPLAY THE FLAG
 DISPLAY AT TOP WHEN SEVERAL FLAGS OF
STATES/SOCIETIES ON THE SAME POLE
 DISPLAY AT THE RIGHT SIDE OF FLAGS IN A
LINE
– RAISE THE U.S. FLAG FIRST, LOWER IT LAST
 DISPLAY AT AN ANGLE OR HORIZONTAL FROM
THE SIDE OF A BUILDING/HOUSE
 WITH 2 OR MORE NATION FLAGS, USE
DIFFERENT POLES, FLY AT SAME HEIGHT
HOW TO DISPLAY THE FLAG
 SUSPENDED OVER SIDEWALK
– FLAG HANGS DOWN, STARS UPPER LEFT (FLAG
RIGHT, OBSERVOR LEFT)
 DISPLAYED HORIZONTAL/VERTICAL A WALL
OR IN A WINDOW
– STARS ALWAYS IN UPPER LEFT (FLAG RIGHT ,
OBSERVOR LEFT)
 SUSPENDED OVER A STREET
– HANGING VERTICAL, E-W STREET - STARS FACE
NORTH; N-S STREET STARS FACE EAST
HOW TO DISPLAY THE FLAG
 SPEAKER PLATFORM
– HANG BEHIND AND ABOVE SPEAKER WITH
STARS TO FLAG RIGHT
– IF FLAG IN HOLDERS, U.S. FLAG TO
SPEAKER’S RIGHT. OTHER FLAGS ON
SPEAKER’S LEFT
– (EX. CHURCH, GRADUATION, ASSEMBLIES)
HOW TO DISPLAY THE FLAG
 HALF-STAFF (HALF- MAST)
– MEMORIAL DAY UNTIL 12:00 NOON
– BY ORDER OF THE PRESIDENT
 DEATH OF A MAJOR U.S.GOVERNMENT
OFFICAL, FOREIGN DIGNITARY
 SPECIAL EVENT
– BY ORDER OF A STATE GOVERNOR
 DEATH OF A MAJOR STATE OFFICIAL
 SPECIAL EVENT
PROPER CARE AND
HANDLING OF THE FLAG
 NEVER DIP THE FLAG TO ANY PERSON OR
THING
 NEVER DISPLAY THE FLAG WITH THE STARS
DOWN
– EXCEPTION: DISTRESS SIGNAL
 NEVER LET THE FLAG TOUCH THE FLOOR,
GROUND, WATER, MERCHANDISE
 NEVER CARRY THE FLAG HORIZONTAL OR
FLAT. CARRY IT ALOFT AND FREE.
PROPER CARE AND
HANDLING OF THE FLAG
 NEVER USED AS CLOTHES, BEDDING,
DRAPERY
 NEVER USED TO COVER A CEILING
 NEVER WRITE OR MARK ON THE FLAG
 NEVER USE THE FLAG AS A BASKET TO
CATCH, HOLD, CARRY/DELIVER THINGS
PROPER CARE AND
HANDLING OF THE FLAG
 NEVER USED FOR ADVERTISING
– NO EMBROIDERY ONCUSHIONS/HANDERCHIEF
– NO PRINTING ON BOXES, PAPER NAPKINS FOR
QUICK USE THEN THROW AWAY
– NO ADVERTISING SIGNS ON A POLE FROM WHICH
THE FLAG IS FLOWN
 NEVER USED AS PART OF A COSTUME OR
ATHLETIC UNIFORM
– EXCEPTION: FLAG PATCH CAN BE PLACED ON A
UNIFORM (MILITARY, POLICE, FIREMAN)
PROPER CARE AND
HANDLING OF THE FLAG
 NEVER FASTEN, DISPLAY, USE OR STORE IN A
WAY THAT WOULD DAMAGE OR DIRTY THE
FLAG
 DISPOSE OF A FLAG THAT CAN NO LONGER
BE USED (DIRTY, TORN) BY BURNING
– CUT THE BLUE FIELD FROM THE FLAG
– PUT THE TWO PIECES TOGETHER
– BURN THE TWO PIECES IN PRIVATE
CONCLUSION
 DEVELOPMENT OF THE U.S. FLAG
 MEANING OF THE COLORS AND
SYMBOLS
 TODAY’S FLAG
CONCLUSION
 WHEN TO DISPLAY THE FLAG
– TIMES, DATES
 HOW TO DISPLAY THE FLAG
– PROCESSIONS, PARADES
– STATIONARY
 HOW TO PROPERLY CARE FOR AND
HANDLE THE U.S. FLAG