Flag Etiquette

• When to Fly the Flag – Fly the flag every day, when weather permits, in any weather if flag is made of weather-resistant material. Fly the flag especially on all national and state holidays. It is customary to fly the flag from sunrise to sunset, unless properly illuminated.
• Raising and Lowering the Flag on a Flag Pole – Raise the flag briskly, lower it slowly. When flying the flag at half mast, raise it to the top of the pole, then lower it to half mast. When taking the flag down from half mast, first raise it back to the top of the pole, then lower it slowly. On Memorial Day, fly the flag at half-mast until noon then raise it to full staff for the rest of the day.
• Greeting the Flag – (You stand when you salute) Salute the flag when:
  a. you see it being raised or lowered on a staff,
  b. you pass it,
  c. it passes you, and
  d. when giving the pledge of allegiance,
  e. during the national anthem.
• Carrying the Flag – Always carry the flag aloft and flying free. When the flag is carried alone, there should be an honor guard to the left of it, or one on each side of it. When carried with other flags, the U.S. Flag should be in front of the others, or the right if the flags are in a line. Never dip the flag of the United States for any person or thing.
• Displaying the Flag –
  a. When flags are displayed at different heights, the U.S. flag flies higher than the others. It is raised first, and lowered last.
  b. When flags are displayed at equal heights, the U.S. flag is either in front of or farthest to the right of the other flags.
  c. When the flag is displayed flat against a wall, horizontally or vertically, the blue field is at the top, at the flag’s own right (to the left as you look at it).
  d. In an auditorium, the flag is placed to the speaker’s right when on the stage, or to the audiences’ right if on the floor.
  THE FLAG IS NEVER FLOWN UPSIDE DOWN, EXCEPT AS A DISTRESS SIGNAL TO CALL FOR HELP.