Flag Respect

The Sons of the American Revolution has a program to locate and identify and present Flag Certificates to schools, organizations and businesses that display the American flag properly.  The certificate contains a Betsy Ross flag that is now recognized as standard during the American Revolution despite its not gaining popularity until afterwards and the current 50 state Stars & Stripes flag.

United States Flag Protocol

• It is the universal custom to display the Flag only from sunrise to sunset on stationary flag staffs in the open.  However, when a patriotic effect is desired, the flag may be displayed 24 hours a day if properly illuminated during the hours of darkness.  The Flag should be hoisted briskly and lowered ceremoniously.
• The Flag, when carried in a procession with another flag or flags, should be either on the marching right, that is, the Flags own right, or, if there is a line of other flags, in front of the center of the line.
• The Flag should not be displayed on a float in parade except from a staff.
• 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.
• 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.  The Flag of the United States of America should be at the center and at the highest point of the group when a number of flags of states or localities or pennants of societies are grouped and displayed from staffs.
• 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.
• 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.
• When used on a speaker’s platform, the Flag, if displayed flat, should be displayed above and behind the speaker.  When displayed from a staff in a church or public auditorium, the Flag of the United States 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.
• The Flag should form a distinctive feature of the ceremony of unveiling a statue or monument, but it should never be used as a covering for a statue or monument.

In addition to this protocol, the general guidelines are 1) the US Flag should not be used as a form of advertisement, as is the case with some auto dealerships, 2) the flag should always be in good condition, not faded or torn, 3) the flag, if flown at night, should have a light directed at it during night time hours, and 4) the flag should not be flown subservient (lower in elevation) to other flags.  Click the following link to read a report entitled  “The United States Flag: Federal Law Relating to Display and Associated Questions“. A downloadable brochure regarding flag respect can be viewed here. 

If you would like to nominate a Flag certificate recipient, or if you feel that your organization should be recognized, please contact us by clicking here.