THE FLAG OF THE UNITED STATES

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THE FLAGOFTHE UNITED STATES
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OVERVIEW

• HISTORY OF THE U.S. FLAG
• DEVELOPMENT
• MEANINGS OF COLORS, SYMBOLS
• MAKEUP OF CURRENT U.S. FLAG
• DISPLAY/HANDLING OF THE U.S. FLAG
• WHEN TO DISPLAY
• HOW TO DISPLAY
• PROPER CARE/HANDLING (RESPECT)

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GRAND UNION FLAG
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DEVELOPMENT OF THE FLAG

• GRAND UNION FLAG - 1775
• 13 STRIPES (FOR 13 ORIGINAL COLONIES)
• CROSS IN UPPER LEFT CORNER
• UNOFFICIAL NATIONAL FLAG UNTIL 1777
• CAMBRIDGE FLAG OR CONGRESS COLORS
• PRESENT AT MOST BATTLES PRIOR TO 1777

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DEVELOPMENT OF THE FLAG

• ON JUNE 14, 1777, 2ND CONTINENTAL CONGRESS
  AUTHORIZED A NEW FLAG
• 13 STRIPES, ALTERNATE RED AND WHITE
• 13 STARS ON A BLUE BACKGROUND

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BETSY ROSS FLAG
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Designers and Patriots

• SEVERAL FLAGMAKERS
• BETSY ROSS BEST KNOWN
• HER DESIGN MOST RECOGNIZED
• 13 STARS IN A CIRCLE ON THE BLUE BACKGROUND
• REBECCA YOUNG AND CORNELIA BRIDGES

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DEVELOPMENT OF THE FLAG

• IN 1794, CONGRESS PASSED A NEW FLAG LAW
• TWO (2) NEW STATES (KENTUCKY AND VERMONT)
• 15 STRIPES, 15 STARS
• INSPIRED FRANCIS SCOTT KEY TO WRITE THE STAR
  SPANGLED BANNER ON A BRITISH SHIP NEAR FT MCHENRY

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STAR SPANGLED BANNER FLAG
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DEVELOPMENT OF THE FLAG

• IN 1818, PRES. MONROE PASSED A NEW FLAG LAW
• 13 STRIPES, ALTERNATE RED, WHITE
• WHITE STARS ON A BLUE BACKGROUND FOR THE STATES
• ADD A STAR TO THE FLAG AS NEW STATES WERE ADDED
  TO THE UNION
• MINOR REVISIONS TO BACKGROUND DUE TO INCREASE IN
  STATES

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MEANING OF THE COLORS AND SYMBOLS

• STARS NUMBER OF STATES
• STRIPES 13 ORIGINAL COLONIES
• RED HARDNESS, VALOR
• WHITE PURITY, INNOCENCE
• BLUEVIGILANCE, JUSTICE, PERSEVERANCE

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TODAYS U.S. FLAG

• 13 ALTERNATING RED AND WHITE STRIPES
• 7 RED, 6 WHITE
• UNION
• BLUE FIELD EXTENDING TO THE 4TH RED STRIPE
• CONTAINS WHITE 5-POINTED STARS
• 50 WHITE STARS (50 STATES) WITH THE ADDITION OF
  ALASKA AND HAWAII
• FIRST FLOWN AT FT MCHENRY JULY4, 1960
• FLAG OF LIBERATION

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TODAYS FLAG
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WHEN TO DISPLAY

• NORMALLY, SUNRISE TO SUNSET ON BUILDINGS AND
  FLAGPOLES
• CAN BE DISPLAYED 24 HOURS FOR PATRIOTIC EFFECT
• REQUIRES AN ALL-WEATHER FLAG
• MUST BE ILLUMINATED IN HOURS OF DARKNESS (BY A
  LAW ENACTED ON JULY 7, 1960
• CAN BE DISPLAYED DURING BAD WEATHER
• REQUIRES AN ALL-WEATHER FLAG

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WHEN TO DISPLAY

• New Years Day
• Inauguration Day
• Martin Luther King Day
• Lincolns Birthday
• Presidents Day
• Easter Sunday
• Mothers Day
• Armed Forces Day
• Memorial Day

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WHEN TO DISPLAY

• Flag Day
• Independence Day
• Labor day
• Constitution Day
• Columbus Day
• Navy Day
• Veterans Day
• Thanksgiving Day
• Christmas Day

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WHEN TO DISPLAY

• DISPLAYED AS DIRECTED BY THE PRESIDENT OF THE
  UNITED STATES
• DISPLAYED DAILY NEAR PUBLIC BUILDINGS
• DISPLAYED AT VOTING BOOTHS ON ELECTION DAYS
• DISPLAYED DAILY IN OR NEAR SCHOOLHOUSES

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HOW TO DISPLAY THE FLAG

• IN A PROCESSION OR A PARADE
• CARRIED ON THE MARCHING RIGHT
• CENTER FRONT OF A LINE OF FLAGS
• NEVER DRAPED OVER A CAR, TRAIN, BOAT ON A CAR,
  FRONT RIGHT ON FENDER/CHASSIS
• NO FLAG CARRIED HIGHER OR TO THE RIGHT
• EXCEPTION CHURCH SERVICES AT SEA. CHURCH
  PENNANT MAY BE FLOWNABOVE FLAG DURING SERVICES

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HOW TO DISPLAY THE FLAG

• STATIONARY (OFFICES, CEREMONIES, BUILDINGS) NO
  FLAG FLOWN HIGHER EXCEPTION UNITED NATIONS FLAG
  AT UN HQ
• DISPLAY FLAT OR HANGING FROM A STAFF
• CROSSED STAFFS U.S.FLAG IN FRONT, OBSERVERS
  LEFT
• DISPLAY AT HIGHEST POINT IN A GROUP OF FLAGS OF
  DIFFERENT STATES OR SOCIETIES

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HOW TO DISPLAY THE FLAG

• DISPLAY AT TOP WHEN SEVERAL FLAGS OF
  STATES/SOCIETIES ON THE SAME POLE
• DISPLAY AT THE RIGHT SIDE OF FLAGS IN A LINE
• RAISE THE U.S. FLAG FIRST, LOWER IT LAST
• DISPLAY AT AN ANGLE OR HORIZONTAL FROM THE SIDE
  OF A BUILDING/HOUSE
• WITH 2 OR MORE NATION FLAGS, USE DIFFERENT POLES,
  FLY AT SAME HEIGHT

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HOW TO DISPLAY THE FLAG

• SUSPENDED OVER SIDEWALK
• FLAG HANGS DOWN, STARS UPPER LEFT (FLAG RIGHT,
  OBSERVOR LEFT)
• DISPLAYED HORIZONTAL/VERTICAL A WALL OR IN A
  WINDOW
• STARS ALWAYS IN UPPER LEFT (FLAG RIGHT , OBSERVOR
  LEFT)
• SUSPENDED OVER A STREET
• HANGING VERTICAL, E-W STREET - STARS FACE NORTH
  N-S STREET STARS FACE EAST

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HOW TO DISPLAY THE FLAG

• SPEAKER PLATFORM
• HANG BEHIND AND ABOVE SPEAKER WITH STARS TO FLAG
  RIGHT
• IF FLAG IN HOLDERS, U.S. FLAG TO SPEAKERS RIGHT.
  OTHER FLAGS ON SPEAKERS LEFT
• (EX. CHURCH, GRADUATION, ASSEMBLIES)

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HOW TO DISPLAY THE FLAG

• HALF-STAFF (HALF- MAST)
• MEMORIAL DAY UNTIL 1200 NOON
• BY ORDER OF THE PRESIDENT
• DEATH OF A MAJOR U.S.GOVERNMENT OFFICAL, FOREIGN
  DIGNITARY
• SPECIAL EVENT
• BY ORDER OF A STATE GOVERNOR
• DEATH OF A MAJOR STATE OFFICIAL
• SPECIAL EVENT

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PROPER CARE AND HANDLING OF THE FLAG

• NEVER DIP THE FLAG TO ANY PERSON OR THING
• NEVER DISPLAY THE FLAG WITH THE STARS DOWN
• EXCEPTION DISTRESS SIGNAL
• NEVER LET THE FLAG TOUCH THE FLOOR, GROUND,
  WATER, MERCHANDISE
• NEVER CARRY THE FLAG HORIZONTAL OR FLAT. CARRY
  IT ALOFT AND FREE.

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PROPER CARE AND HANDLING OF THE FLAG

• NEVER USED AS CLOTHES, BEDDING, DRAPERY
• NEVER USED TO COVER A CEILING
• NEVER WRITE OR MARK ON THE FLAG
• NEVER USE THE FLAG AS A BASKET TO CATCH, HOLD,
  CARRY/DELIVER THINGS

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PROPER CARE AND HANDLING OF THE FLAG

• NEVER USED FOR ADVERTISING
• NO EMBROIDERY ONCUSHIONS/HANDERCHIEF
• NO PRINTING ON BOXES, PAPER NAPKINS FOR QUICK USE
  THEN THROW AWAY
• NO ADVERTISING SIGNS ON A POLE FROM WHICH THE
  FLAG IS FLOWN
• NEVER USED AS PART OF A COSTUME OR ATHLETIC
  UNIFORM
• EXCEPTION FLAG PATCH CAN BE PLACED ON A UNIFORM
  (MILITARY, POLICE, FIREMAN)

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PROPER CARE AND HANDLING OF THE FLAG

• NEVER FASTEN, DISPLAY, USE OR STORE IN A WAY THAT
  WOULD DAMAGE OR DIRTY THE FLAG
• DISPOSE OF A FLAG THAT CAN NO LONGER BE USED
  (DIRTY, TORN) BY BURNING
• CUT THE BLUE FIELD FROM THE FLAG
• PUT THE TWO PIECES TOGETHER
• BURN THE TWO PIECES IN PRIVATE

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CONCLUSION

• DEVELOPMENT OF THE U.S. FLAG
• MEANING OF THE COLORS AND SYMBOLS
• TODAYS FLAG

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CONCLUSION

• WHEN TO DISPLAY THE FLAG
• TIMES, DATES
• HOW TO DISPLAY THE FLAG
• PROCESSIONS, PARADES
• STATIONARY
• HOW TO PROPERLY CARE FOR AND HANDLE THE U.S. FLAG