Title 4Flag and Seal; Seat of Government; StatesRelease 119-73

§9 Conduct during hoisting, lowering or passing of flag

Title 4 › Chapter CHAPTER 1— - THE FLAG › § 9

Last updated Apr 6, 2026|Official source

Summary

When the flag is raised, lowered, or carried in a parade, those in uniform should salute. Service members and veterans not in uniform may salute. Others should face the flag and stand at attention with their right hand over the heart or remove a hat and hold it over the left shoulder as the flag passes.

Full Legal Text

Title 4, §9

Flag and Seal; Seat of Government; States — Source: USLM XML via OLRC

During the ceremony of hoisting or lowering the flag or when the flag is passing in a parade or in review, all persons present in uniform should render the military salute. Members of the Armed Forces and veterans who are present but not in uniform may render the military salute. All other persons present should face the flag and stand at attention with their right hand over the heart, or if applicable, remove their headdress with their right hand and hold it at the left shoulder, the hand being over the heart. Citizens of other countries present should stand at attention. All such conduct toward the flag in a moving column should be rendered at the moment the flag passes.

Legislative History

Notes & Related Subsidiaries

Historical and Revision Notes

Revised SectionSource (U.S. Code)Source (Statutes at Large) 936:177.June 22, 1942, ch. 435, § 5, 56 Stat. 380; Dec. 22, 1942, ch. 806, § 5, 56 Stat. 1077; July 7, 1976, Pub. L. 94–344, (17), 90 Stat. 812.

Editorial Notes

Amendments

2008—Pub. L. 110–181 substituted “all persons present in uniform should render the military salute. Members of the Armed Forces and veterans who are present but not in uniform may render the military salute. All other persons present should face the flag and stand at attention with their right hand over the heart, or if applicable, remove their headdress with their right hand and hold it at the left shoulder, the hand being over the heart. Citizens of other countries present should stand at attention. All such conduct toward the flag in a moving column should be rendered at the moment the flag passes.” for “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.”

Reference

Citations & Metadata

Citation

4 U.S.C. § 9

Title 4Flag and Seal; Seat of Government; States

Last Updated

Apr 6, 2026

Release point: 119-73