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PATRIOTIC CUSTOMS
- § 170. National anthem; Star-Spangled Banner.
- § 171. Conduct during playing.
- § 172. Pledge of allegiance to the flag; manner
of delivery.
- § 173. Display and use of flag by civilians;
codification of rules and customs; definition.
- § 174. Time and occasions for display.
- § 175. Position and manner of display.
- § 176. Respect for flag.
- § 177. Conduct during hoisting, lowering or
passing of flag.
- § 178. Modification of rules and customs by
President.
- § 179. Design for service flag; persons entitled
to display flag.
- § 180. Design for service lapel button; persons
entitled to wear button.
- § 181. Approval of designs by Secretary of
Defense; license to manufacture and sell; penalties.
- § 182. Rules and regulations.
- § 182a to 184. Repealed.
- § 185. Transferred.
- § 186. National motto.
- § 187. National floral emblem.
- § 188. National march.
- § 189. Recognition of National League of
Families POW/MIA flag.
§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 United
States of America.
§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 United States of America, and to the Republic for which it stands, one
Nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.', should
be rendered by standing at attention facing the flag with the right hand
over the heart. 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. Persons in uniform should remain silent, face the flag, and render
the military salute.
§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 purpose 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
- (a) Display on buildings and stationary flagstaffs in open; night
display
It is the universal custom to display the flag only from sunrise to
sunset on buildings and on stationary flagstaffs 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) Manner of hoisting
The flag should be hoisted briskly and lowered ceremoniously.
- (c) Inclement weather
The flag should not be displayed on days when the weather is
inclement, except when an all weather flag is displayed.
- (d) Particular days of display
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), the
last Monday in May; Flag Day, June 14; Independence Day, July 4; Labor
Day, first Monday in September; Constitution Day, 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; and such other days as may be proclaimed
by the President of the United States; the birthdays of States (date
of admission); and on State holidays.
- (e) Display on or near administration building of public
institutions
The flag should be displayed daily on or near the main
administration building of every public institution.
- (f) Display in or near polling places
The flag should be displayed in or near every polling place on
election days.
- (g) Display in or near schoolhouses
The flag should be displayed during school days in or near every
schoolhouse.
§175. Position and manner of display
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.
- (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.
- (e) 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.
- (f) When flags of States, cities, or localities, or pennants of
societies are flown on the same halyard with the flag of the United
States, the latter 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 United States flag's
right.
- (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.
- (h) When the flag of the United States is displayed from a staff
projecting horizontally or at an angle from the window sill, balcony,
or front of a building, the union of the flag should be placed at the
peak of the staff unless the flag is at half staff. 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.
- (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.
- (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.
- (k) 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 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.
- (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.
- (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. 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 United States Government and the Governor of
a State, territory, or possession, as a mark of respect to their
memory. In the event of the death of other officials or foreign
dignitaries, the flag is to be displayed at half-staff according to
Presidential instructions or orders, or in accordance with recognized
customs or practices not inconsistent with law. In the event of the
death of a present or former official of the government of any State,
territory, or possession of the United States, the Governor of that
State, territory, or possession may proclaim that the National flag
shall be flown at half-staff. The flag shall be flown at half-staff
thirty days from the death of the President or a former President; ten
days from the day of death of the Vice President, the Chief Justice or
a retired Chief Justice of the United States, or the Speaker of the
House of Representatives; from the day of death until interment of an
Associate Justice of the Supreme Court, a Secretary of an executive or
military department, a former Vice President, or the Governor of a
State, territory, or possession; and on the day of death and the
following day for a Member of Congress. As used in this subsection -
- (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;
- (2) the term 'executive or military department' means any agency
listed under sections 101 and 102
of title 5; and
- (3) the term 'Member of Congress' means a Senator, a
Representative, a Delegate, or the Resident Commissioner from
Puerto Rico.
- (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.
- (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 United States of America;
the flag should not be dipped to any person or thing. Regimental colors,
State flags, and organization or institutional flags are to be dipped as a
mark of honor.
- (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 napkins 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 herein, 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.
§179. Design for service flag; persons entitled to
display flag
The Secretary of Defense is authorized and directed to approve a design
for a service flag, which flag may be displayed in a window of the place
of residence of persons who are members of the immediate family of a
person serving in the armed forces of the United States during any period
of war or hostilities in which the Armed Forces of the United States may
be engaged.
§180. Design for service lapel button; persons
entitled to wear button
The Secretary of Defense is also authorized and directed to approve a
design for a service lapel button, which button may be worn by members of
the immediate family of a person serving in the armed forces of the United
States during any period of war or hostilities in which the Armed Forces
of the United States may be engaged.
§181. Approval of designs by Secretary of Defense;
license to manufacture and sell; penalties
Upon the approval by the Secretary of Defense of the design for such
service flag and service lapel button, he shall cause notice thereof,
together with a description of the approved flag and button, to be
published in the Federal Register. Thereafter any person may apply to the
Secretary of Defense for a license to manufacture and sell the approved
service flag, or the approved service lapel button, or both. Any person,
firm, or corporation who manufactures any such service flag or service
lapel button without having first obtained such a license, or otherwise
violates sections 179 to 182 of this
title, shall, upon conviction thereof, be fined not more than $1,000.
§182. Rules and regulations
The Secretary of Defense is authorized to make such rules and regulations
as may be necessary to carry out the provisions of sections 179
to 182 of this title.
§182a to 182d. Repealed. Pub. L. 89-534, § 2, Aug. 11, 1966, 80
Stat. 345
§183, 184. Repealed. Pub. L. 85-857, § 14(84),
Sept. 2, 1958, 72 Stat. 1272
§185. Transferred
§186. National motto
The national motto of the United States is declared to be 'In God we
trust.'
§187. National floral emblem
The flower commonly known as the rose is designated and adopted as the
national floral emblem of the United States of America, and the President
of the United States is authorized and requested to declare such fact by
proclamation.
§188. National march
The composition by John Philip Sousa entitled 'The Stars and Stripes
Forever' is hereby designated as the national march of the United States
of America.
§189. Recognition of National League of Families
POW/MIA flag
The National League of Families POW/MIA flag is hereby recognized
officially and designated as the symbol of our Nation's concern and
commitment to resolving as fully as possible the fates of Americans still
prisoner, missing and unaccounted for in Southeast Asia, thus ending the
uncertainty for their families and the Nation.
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