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Basics:
Federal law stipulates many aspects of flag etiquette. The section
of law
dealing with American Flag etiquette is generally referred to
as 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, fireman, policeman 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.
The
flag should be cleaned and mended when necessary.
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.

DISPLAY OUTDOORS
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.
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. By "half-staff"
is meant lowering the flag to one-half the distance between
the top and bottom of the staff. Crepe streamers may be affixed
to spear heads or flagstaffs in a parade only by order of the
President of the United States.
Flown on the Same Halyard with Non-Nation Flags:
The American Flag should always be at the peak. When the flags
are flown from adjacent staffs, the flag of the United States
should be hoisted first and lowered last. No such flag or pennant
may be placed above the flag of the United States or to the
right of the flag of the United States.
Suspended Over a Sidewalk:
The flag may be suspended 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.
From a Staff Projecting Horizontally or at an Angle:
The flag may be projected from the window sill, balcony, or
front of a building, with the union of the flag placed at the
peak of the staff unless the flag is at half-staff.
In a Parade with Other Flags:
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.
With Non-National Flags:
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.
With Other National Flags:
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.
With Another Flag Against a Wall from Crossed Staffs:
Should be on the right, the flag's own right which is the viewer's
left, and its staff should be in front of the staff of the other
flag.
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DISPLAY INDOORS
From a Staff in a Church or Public Auditorium on a Podium:
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 (to the right of the
audience).
From a Staff in a Church or Public Auditorium off the Podium:
Custom and not the flag code hold that the flag of the United
States of America should hold the position of superior prominence
as part of the audience, in the position of honor at the audience's
right.
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.
Other than being Flown from a Staff:
The flag should be displayed flat, whether indoors or out. 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 it should
be displayed in the same way, that is with the union or blue
field to the left of the observer in the street. When festoons,
rosettes or drapings are desired, bunting of blue, white and
red should be used, but never the flag.

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