The United States flag represents the spirit of our great nation and should be revered by every US citizen. I have never agreed with the concept of burning the flag because it just doesnt make any sense to me. If you are a US citizen who is that disgusted with your citizenship the best thing for you to do would be to leave the country. There is no sense staying in a place where you are miserable.
The United States has many codes regarding the proper display of the national flag. Many people violate these codes every year. Most times it is done out of a lack of knowledge of the proper procedures rather than a lack of respect. They just aren't aware that there is a right and wrong way to fly or hang the flag. There are also right or wrong ways to transport and care for the flag.
The US flag should always be the top flag when it is displayed on a pole with other flags. It takes prominence over State flags or any other flag which is displayed with it.
When the US flag is handled it must be handled with due reverence. It can never be dropped or allowed to touch the ground. Whenever it is taken down it must be folded correctly and properly stored until it is needed again. The flag will have a triangular shape when it has been folded correctly. It normally takes two or more people to fold the flag correctly. Each person should open up the ends of the flag and fold it over from right to left. Once they have straightened out the borders of the flag and lined them up they fold it a second time.
The person who has the end away from the stars should fold the open end of the flag over to the opposite edge to form a triangle. He or she then has to continue to fold the flag from side to side to continue the triangular shape. Once the entire flag has been folded it needs to be neatly tucked so that the loose ends dont show. It should then be put away until it is needed again.
If the flag is displayed horizontally, the blue field containing the stars must always be in the upper left hand corner as it pertains to the perspective of the observer. When displayed vertically against a wall or in a window, the union must be to the observer's left. The flag can never be used as draping.
If the flag is presented with the flags of any other nations, the U.S. flag should be at the center and the highest point of the group. All of the flags must be flown from separate staffs of equal height, and they should be of equal size. Now we cant control what people do when they are from other nations and they are displaying the US flag along with theirs but as citizens of the US we should be willing and happy to put our nation first.
If the flag is flown during hour of darkness it needs to have flood lights or spotlights illuminating it. It preferably should be taken down but can be flown at night under the mentioned conditions. Take down the flag at night, or illuminate it during nighttime hours.
When you fly the flag at half staff you must first raise it to the top of the staff and then lower it. It can only be flown at half-staff before noon on Memorial Day, or following a presidential order to honor a deceased official or acknowledge a national tragedy.
The flag must not be displayed in inclement weather unless the flag is an all-weather model.
Hopefully these guidelines will help you in displaying the US flag. The purpose of this article is to eliminate doubt in areas where you may have been unsure. This article is by no means a totally encompassing writing. There are certainly situations which may not be covered here.
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