Honoring Our Flag
Standards for respectfully displaying, saluting, caring for, and retiring the flag of the United States.
Flag Code guidance
Standards and respect
The flag should not touch the ground or other objects when lowered. Receive it by hand, fold it neatly, and retire it with dignity when no longer fit for display.
Outdoor display
Displaying the flag outdoors
When displayed from a projecting staff, the union should be at the peak unless the flag is at half-staff. When displayed over a street, hang it vertically with the union to the north or east.
Other flags on separate equal-height poles should not be larger than or placed above the United States flag.
Ceremony
Raising and lowering the flag
Raise the flag briskly and lower it slowly and ceremoniously. It is ordinarily displayed between sunrise and sunset and should be illuminated when displayed at night.
Place of honor
Displaying the flag indoors
Place the flag in the position of honor, to its own right. It should be to the right of a speaker or staging area. Against a wall, the union should be at the top and to the observer left.
Respect
Salute, pledge, and national anthem
Stand at attention facing the flag for the Pledge of Allegiance. People in uniform give the prescribed salute; others place the right hand over the heart. During the national anthem, face and salute the flag from the first note through the last.
Half-staff
The flag in mourning
To place the flag at half-staff, first hoist it briefly to the peak and then lower it. Raise it to the peak again before lowering it completely. On Memorial Day, display it at half-staff until noon and at full staff from noon to sunset.
When used to cover a casket, place the union at the head and over the left shoulder. Do not lower the flag into the grave.