THE FLAG CODE
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Title 36,
As amended by Public Law 344, 94th Congress
Approved July 7, 1976
§ 170.
National Anthem; Star-Spangled Banner
The
composition consisting of the words and music known as The Star-Spangled Banner
is designated the national anthem of the
§ 171.
Conduct during playing
During
rendition of the national anthem when the flag is displayed, all present except
those in uniform should stand at attention facing the flag with the right hand
over the heart. Men not in uniform should remove their headdress with their
right hand and hold it at the left shoulder, the hand being over the heart.
Persons in uniform should render the military salute at the first note of the
anthem and retain this position until the last note. When the flag is not
displayed, those present should face toward the music and act in the same
manner they would if the flag were displayed there.
§ 172.
Pledge of Allegiance to the flag; manner of delivery
The
Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag, "I pledge allegiance to the Flag of the
§ 173.
Display and use of flag by civilians; codification of rules and customs;
definition
The
following codification of existing rules and customs pertaining to the display
and use of the flag of the United States of America is established for the use
of such civilians or civilian groups or organizations as may not be required to
conform with regulations promulgated by one or more executive departments of the
Government of the United States. The flag of the United States for the purposes
of this chapter shall be defined according to sections 1 and 2 of Title 4 and
Executive Order 10834 issued pursuant thereto.
§ 174.
Time and occasions for display; hoisting and lowering
(a) It is the universal custom to display the flag only from
sunrise to sunset on buildings and on stationary flag staffs in the open.
However, when a patriotic effect is desired, the flag may be displayed
twenty-four hours a day if properly illuminated during the hours of darkness.
(b) The flag should be hoisted briskly and lowered
ceremoniously.
(c) The flag should not be displayed on days when the weather is
inclement, except when an all weather flag is displayed.
(d) The flag should be displayed on all days, especially on
New Year's Day - January 1
Inauguration Day - January 20
Lincoln's Birthday - February 12
Washington's Birthday - third Monday in February
Easter Sunday - (variable)
Mother's Day - second Sunday in May
Armed Forces Day - third Saturday in May
Memorial Day (half-staff until noon) - last Monday in May
Flag Day - June 14
Independence Day - July 4
Labor Day - first Monday - September 17
Columbus Day - second Monday in October
Navy Day - October 27
Veterans Day - November 11
Thanksgiving Day - fourth Thursday in November
Christmas Day - December 25
Other days as may be proclaimed by the President of the United States
Birthdays of States (date of admission)
State holidays
(e) The flag should be displayed daily on or near the main
administration building of every public institution.
(f) The flag should be displayed in or near every polling place
on election days.
(g) The flag should be displayed during school days in or near
every schoolhouse.
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Marine Corps Flag Raising
on
February 1945
§ 175.
Position and manner of display
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The flag, when carried in
a procession with another flag or flags, should be either on the marching
right; that is, the flag's own right, or, if there is a line of other flags,
in front of the center of that line. |
(a) The flag should not be displayed on a float in a parade
except from a staff, or as provided in subsection (i)
of this section.
(b) The flag should not be draped over the hood, top, sides, or
back of a vehicle or of a railroad train or a boat. When the flag is displayed
on a motorcar, the staff shall be fixed firmly to the chassis or clamped to the
right fender.
(c) No other flag or pennant should be placed above, or, if on
the same level, to the right of the flag of the United States of America,
except during church services conducted by naval chaplains at sea, when the
church pennant may be flown above the flag during church services for the
personnel of the Navy. No person shall display the flag of the United Nations
or any other national or international flag equal, above, or in a position of
superior prominence or honor to, or in place of, the flag of the United States
at any place within the United States or any Territory or possession thereof:
Provided, That nothing in this section shall make unlawful the continuance of
the practice heretofore followed of displaying the flag of the United Nations
in a position of superior prominence or honor, and other national flags in
positions of equal prominence or honor, with that of the flag of the United
States at the headquarters of the United Nations.
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(d) The flag of the
United States of America, when it is displayed with another flag against a
wall from crossed staffs, should be on the right, the flag's own right, and
its staff should be in front of the staff of the other flag. |
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(e) The flag of the |
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(f) When flags of States,
cities, or localities, or pennants of societies are flown on the same halyard
with the flag of the |
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(g) When flags of two or more nations
are displayed, they are to be flown from separate staffs of the same height.
The flags should be of approximately equal size. International usage forbids
the display of the flag of one nation above that of another nation in time of
peace.
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(h) When the flag of the
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When
the flag is suspended over a sidewalk from a rope extending from a house to a
pole at the edge of the sidewalk, the flag should be hoisted out, union first,
from the building.
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(i)
When displayed either horizontally or vertically against a wall, the union
should be uppermost and to the flag's own right, that is, to the observer's
left. When displayed in a window, the flag should be displayed in the same
way, with the union or blue field to the left of the observer in the street. |
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(j) When the flag is displayed
over the middle of the street, it should be suspended vertically with the
union to the north in an east and west street or to the east in a north and
south street. |
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(k) When used on a
speaker's platform, the flag, if displayed flat, should be displayed above
and behind the speaker . |
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When displayed from a staff in a
church or public auditorium, the flag of the United States of America should
hold the position of superior prominence, in advance of the audience, and in
the position of honor at the clergyman's or speaker's right as he faces the
audience. Any other flag so displayed should be placed on the left of the
clergyman or speaker or to the right of the audience.
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(l) The flag should form
a distinctive feature of the ceremony of unveiling a statue or monument, but
it should never be used as the covering for the statue or monument. |
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(m)
The flag, when flown at half-staff, should be first hoisted to the peak for an
instant and then lowered to the half-staff position. The flag should be again
raised to the peak before it is lowered for the day.
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On
Memorial Day the flag should be displayed at half-staff until noon only, then raised to the top of the staff. By order of the
President, the flag shall be flown at half-staff upon the death of principal
figures of the
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(1)
the term "half-staff" means the position of the flag when it is
one-half the distance between the top and bottom of the staff;
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(2)
the term "executive or military department" means any agency listed
under sections 101 and 102 of title 5; and
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(3)
the term "Member of Congress" means a Senator,
a Representative, a Delegate, or the Resident Commissioner for
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(n) When the Flag is used to cover a
casket, it should be so placed that the union is at the head and over the left
shoulder. The flag should not be lowered into the grave or allowed to touch the
ground.
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(o)
When the flag is suspended across a corridor or lobby in a building with only
one main entrance, it should be suspended vertically with the union of the flag
to the observer's left upon entering. If the building has more than one main
entrance, the flag should be suspended vertically near the center of the
corridor or lobby with the union to the north, when entrances are to the east
and west or to the east when entrances are to the north and south. If there are
entrances in more than two directions, the union should be to the east.
§ 176.
Respect for flag
No
disrespect should be shown to the flag of the
(a) The flag should never be displayed with the union down,
except as a signal of dire distress in instances of extreme danger to life or
property.
(b) The flag should never touch anything beneath it, such as the
ground, the floor, water, or merchandise.
(c) The flag should never be carried flat or horizontally, but
always aloft and free.
(d) The flag should never be used as wearing apparel, bedding,
or drapery. It should never be festooned, drawn back, nor up, in folds, but
always allowed to fall free.
Bunting of blue, white, and red
always arranged with the blue above, the white in the middle, and the red
below, should be used for covering a speaker's desk, draping the front of the platform, and for decoration in general.
(e) The flag should never be fastened, displayed, used, or
stored in such a manner as to permit it to be easily torn, soiled, or damaged
in any way.
(f) The flag should never be used as a covering for a ceiling.
(g) The flag should never have placed upon it, nor on any part
of it, nor attached to it any mark, insignia, letter, word, figure, design,
picture, or drawing of any nature.
(h) The flag should never be used as a receptacle for receiving,
holding, carrying, or delivering anything.
(i) The flag should never be used for
advertising purposes in any manner whatsoever. It should not be embroidered on
such articles as cushions or handkerchiefs and the like, printed or otherwise
impressed on paper napkin or boxes or anything that is designed for temporary
use and discard. Advertising signs should not be fastened to a staff or halyard
from which the flag is flown.
(j) No part of the flag should ever be used as a costume or
athletic uniform. However, a flag patch may be affixed to the uniform of
military personnel, firemen, policemen, and members of patriotic organizations.
The flag represents a living country and is itself considered a living thing.
Therefore, the lapel flag pin being a replica, should
be worn on the left lapel near the heart.
(k) The flag, when it is in such condition that it is no longer
a fitting emblem for display, should be destroyed in a dignified way,
preferably by burning.
§ 177.
Conduct during hoisting, lowering or passing of flag
During
the ceremony of hoisting or lowering the flag or when the flag is passing in a
parade or in review, all persons present except those in uniform should face the
flag and stand at attention with the right hand over the heart. Those present
in uniform should render the military salute. When not in uniform, men should
remove their headdress with their right hand and hold it at the left shoulder,
the hand being over the heart. Aliens should stand at attention. The salute to
the flag in a moving column should be rendered at the moment the flag passes.
§ 178.
Modification of rules and customs by President
Any
rule or custom pertaining to the display of the flag of the United States of
America, set forth in section 171-178 of this title, may be altered, modified,
or repealed, or additional rules with respect thereto may be prescribed, by the
Commander in Chief of the Armed Forces of the United States, whenever he deems
it to be appropriate or desirable; and any such alteration or additional rule
shall be set forth in a proclamation.
