10 A
SIUSLAW NEWS ❚ SATURDAY, JUNE 11, 2016
FLAG ETIQUETTE
F LAG D AY , J UNE 14, 2016
F
rom
handling
and
saluting to displaying and
disposal, there is a code
in place when it comes to the
American flag.
Old Glory is a symbol of our
freedom and liberty, and the
vision set forth by our founding
fathers. That’s why there are so
many rules and regulations in
place to preserve its heritage.
On June 14, 1923, the
National Flag Code was
adopted by the National Flag
Conference. Putting together
the code was a collaborative
process.
The
conference
called
together representatives of the
United States Army and Navy
to describe their own flag-
handling procedures — an
effort that led to the adoption
of these processes by all
organizations in attendance.
Some general guidelines
from 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 never be
dipped to any person or thing.
It is flown upside down only as
a distress signal.
• 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.
• The flag should never be
used for any advertising
purpose. It should not be
embroidered, printed or
otherwise impressed on such
articles
as
cushions,
handkerchiefs, napkins, boxes,
or anything intended to be
discarded after temporary use.
Advertising signs should not be
attached to the staff or halyard.
• The flag should not be
used as part of a costume or
athletic uniform, except that a
flag patch may be used on the
uniform of military personnel,
firemen, policemen and
members
of
patriotic
organizations.
• The flag should never
have any mark, insignia, letter,
word, number, figure, or
drawing of any kind placed on
it or attached to it.
• The flag should never be
used for receiving, holding,
carrying,
or
delivering
anything.
• 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.
History of the Flag
To use proper etiquette,
you must truly understand
the history of the United
States l ag. Where did it come
from and who created it?
Why is it red, white and blue?
h e traditional story that
Betsy Ross designed the orig-
inal l ag in 1776 has permeat-
ed our education system and
is the most noteworthy story
of how the l ag came to be.
Some historians claim
that in June 1776, a congres-
sional committee of Gen.
George Washington, Rob-
ert Morris and Betsy’s uncle,
George Ross, went to her
Philadelphia upholstery shop.
At er collaborating on
some minor design details,
Ross agreed to sew the i nal-
ized emblem, and on June 14,
1777, Congress adopted it as
the offi cial U.S. l ag.
Another Creator?
Many historians refute
the Ross tradition, claiming
that there is no offi cial record
of a congressional l ag com-
mittee.
h e only documented
evidence naming Ross is a
voucher dated May 29, 1777,
showing that she was paid 14
pounds and some shillings
for l ags she made for the
Pennsylvania Navy, accord-
ing to the Veterans of Foreign
Wars (VFW).
Old Glory
h e name Old Glory
was i rst applied to the U.S.
l ag by Capt. William Driver,
a young captain who lived
in Salem, Mass. On his 21st
birthday, he was presented a
beautiful l ag by his mother,
which he named Old Glory.
h e captain took Old
Glory on many sea voyages
before eventually quitting
sailing and settling in Nash-
ville. Driver reportedly dis-
played Old Glory proudly
from a rope extending from
his house to a tree across the
street before i nally giving it
to his daughter shortly before
his death.
h e l ag remained as
a precious heirloom in the
Driver family until 1922,
when it was sent to the
Smithsonian Institution in
Washington D.C., where it
remains carefully preserved
under glass.
Displaying the Flag Outdoors
Many American citizens
choose to proudly wave the red,
white and blue from posts or
poles in their yards. It is a
showing of great respect for our
nation and helps us feel more
patriotic. There are certain
actions you must take when
displaying you flag outdoors to
maintain its prestige. These are
spelled out by the U.S. Flag
Code. Here are a few examples
from www.usflag.org:
• When the flag is displayed
from a staff projecting from a
window, balcony or a building,
the union should be at the peak
of the staff unless the flag is at
half-staff.
• When it is displayed from
the same flagpole with another
flag, the U.S. flag must always
be at the top with a couple of
exceptions. The church pennant
may be flown above the flag
during church services for Navy
personnel when conducted by a
Naval chaplain on a ship at sea.
• When the flag is displayed
over a street, it should be hung
vertically, with the union to the
north or east. If the flag is
suspended over a sidewalk, the
flag’s union should be farthest
from the building.
Proper Illumination
One of the most intricate
parts of the U.S. Flag Code
concerns displaying the flag at
night. If you choose to do so,
you must make sure the flag is
property illuminated.
This means that the stars and
stripes can be seen from a
reasonable distance, which may
require you to install a
dedicated light for a flag on a
pole.
Flags on a residential porch
may only need the light of a
porch or street light to achieve
proper illumination.
Check in with your local
American Legion or armory for
more detailed instruction on
what my be required in your
area.
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CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW BLACK
The U.S. Flag Code