US Flag Etiquette

When flying or displaying the flag of the United States of America there are a number of rules for correct flag etiquette.

The flag of the United States of America should be displayed only from sunrise to sunset unless the flag is illuminated.

The flag should not be allowed to touch the ground.

Hung from a wall

The Flag can be displayed vertically or horizontally. The stars should be at top of the flag’s right and the observers left.

Suspended over a street

When the US flag is suspended across a street, it should hang vertically with the stars to the north or east.

Placed on a Podium
The flag should be placed on the speaker’s right or the staging area. Other flags should be placed to the left.

Flown at half-staff

When flown at half-staff during a period of national mourning the flag is first hoisted to the top of the pole for a moment and then lowered to half-staff. At the end of the day the flag is first raised again to the top and then lowered.

Flown with state or other flag
When an American flag is displayed from the same flagpole with another flag – state, community, or society – the U.S. flag must always be on the top.

Grouped with other flags
When the U.S. flag is flown with other national flags, all the flags should be of equal size and flown on separate staffs of the same height. International law forbids a nation’s flag to be flown above any other nation’s flag during peacetime.