Flying the American Flag

The Flag Code, which formalizes and unifies the traditional ways in which we give respect to the flag, contains specific instructions on how to fly the flag and how it is not to be used.

Here are ten guidelines:

1. The flag should be hoisted briskly and lowered ceremoniously.
2. The flag is never allowed to touch the ground or the floor.
3. When hung over a sidewalk on a rope extending from a building
to a pole, the union stars are always away from the building.
4. When vertically hung over the center of the street the flag always has
the union stars to the north in an east/west street, and to the east
in a north/south street.
5. 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.
6. The flag should never be festooned, drawn back, nor up in folds but
always allowed to fall free.
7. The flag should be displayed at half-staff until noon on Memorial Day
then raised to the top of the staff.
8. Never fly the flag upside down except as a signal of distress in
instances of extreme danger to life or property.