Happy Birthday America! Flag Etiquette

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One of my biggest pet peeves is improper flag display, and general misuse of the flag. Call me old fashioned (please do!), but I’m a patriotic girl. So, I thought today, the day before Independence Day, would be a good day to give a little lesson on the flag!

Here are some major points of the flag code:

The flag should be lighted at all times, either by sunlight or by an appropriate light source.

The flag should be flown in fair weather, unless the flag is designed for inclement weather use.

The flag should not be used for any decoration in general. Bunting of blue, white and red stripes is available for these purposes. The blue stripe of the bunting should be on the top.

When the flag is lowered, no part of it should touch the ground or any other object; it should be received by waiting hands and arms. To store the flag it should be folded neatly and ceremoniously.

The flag should be cleaned and mended when necessary.

You can find the full flag code here. Check it out, and the drive around your neighborhood. The biggest violator of the flag code is usually McDonald’s! At least in my area. Next time you drive by a McDonald’s, take a look at their flag pole.

Other interesting facts:

The flag is flown upside down only as a distress signal.

When a flag is so worn it is no longer fit to serve as a symbol of our country, it should be destroyed by burning in a dignified manner.

The flag should never have any mark, insignia, letter, word, number, figure, or drawing of any kind placed on it, or attached to it.

That’s all for my short little P.S.A. about the flag code. Wishing you all a safe and happy 4th of July!

XOXO

-Bex