PRIA, Government Policy, Made Personal

Summary

Place the U.S. flag on the marching right in a parade, or in front of the center if other flags form a line. Do not put the flag on a parade float unless it is on a staff. Do not drape the flag over the hood, top, sides, or back of a car, train, or boat. If the flag is on a car, the staff must be firmly fixed to the chassis or clamped to the right fender. No other flag may be above or to the right of the U.S. flag, except a church pennant flown above it at sea during naval services. When crossed with another flag, the U.S. flag goes on its own right and its staff stays in front. When shown with state or local flags, the U.S. flag must be centered and highest. If flown on the same rope, the U.S. flag must be at the top; if on separate staffs, it is raised first and lowered last. When flags of different nations are shown, each gets its own staff of the same height and roughly the same size. If the flag hangs from a projecting staff, the blue field (union) goes at the top of the staff unless it is at half-staff. When hung flat or vertical on a wall or in a window, the union should be uppermost and to the flag’s right (the observer’s left). Over a street, the union should face north on an east–west street or east on a north–south street. On a speaker’s platform, the flag should be above and behind the speaker and in the position of honor at the speaker’s or clergyman’s right. The flag can be used in an unveiling ceremony but not as a covering for the statue. When it covers a casket, put the union at the head over the left shoulder. The flag must never be lowered into a grave or touch the ground. In a corridor or lobby with one main entrance, hang the flag vertically with the union to the observer’s left; with two main entrances use the center with the union to the north (if entrances face east and west) or to the east (if entrances face north and south); with entrances in more than two directions, the union faces east. Raise the flag to the top briefly, then lower it to half-staff. Before lowering for the day, bring it back to the top. On Memorial Day, keep it at half-staff until noon, then raise it. The President may order half-staff for top national leaders and the Governor may order it for certain state deaths. Governors and the Mayor of the District of Columbia may order half-staff for members of the Armed Forces who die on active duty and for first responders who die in the line of duty; federal sites in the area follow that order. The flag is at half-staff for 30 days after the death of a President or former President; 10 days after the death of a Vice President, the Chief Justice or a retired Chief Justice, or the Speaker of the House; from death until burial for an Associate Justice, a Secretary of an executive or military department, a former Vice President, or a Governor; and on the day of death and the following day for a Member of Congress. The flag is also at half-staff on Peace Officers Memorial Day unless that day is also Armed Forces Day. Definitions: “half‑staff” means halfway between the top and bottom of the staff; “executive or military department” refers to agencies listed under sections 101 and 102 of title 5; “Member of Congress” means a Senator, Representative, Delegate, or the Resident Commissioner from Puerto Rico; “first responder” means a “public safety officer” as defined in section 1204 of title I of the Omnibus Crime Control and Safe Streets Act of 1968 (34 U.S.C. 10284).

Title 4, §7

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

The flag, when carried in a procession with another flag or flags, should be either on the marching right; that is, the flag’s own right, or, if there is a line of other flags, in front of the center of that line.

(a)The flag should not be displayed on a float in a parade except from a staff, or as provided in subsection (i) of this section.

(b)The flag should not be draped over the hood, top, sides, or back of a vehicle or of a railroad train or a boat. When the flag is displayed on a motorcar, the staff shall be fixed firmly to the chassis or clamped to the right fender.

(c)No other flag or pennant should be placed above or, if on the same level, to the right of the flag of the United States of America, except during church services conducted by naval chaplains at sea, when the church pennant may be flown above the flag during church services for the personnel of the Navy. No person shall display the flag of the United Nations or any other national or international flag equal, above, or in a position of superior prominence or honor to, or in place of, the flag of the United States at any place within the United States or any Territory or possession thereof: Provided, That nothing in this section shall make unlawful the continuance of the practice heretofore followed of displaying the flag of the United Nations in a position of superior prominence or honor, and other national flags in positions of equal prominence or honor, with that of the flag of the United States at the headquarters of the United Nations.

(d)The flag of the United States of America, when it is displayed with another flag against a wall from crossed staffs, should be on the right, the flag’s own right, and its staff should be in front of the staff of the other flag.

(e)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.

(f)When flags of States, cities, or localities, or pennants of societies are flown on the same halyard with the flag of the United States, the latter should always be at the peak. When the flags are flown from adjacent staffs, the flag of the United States should be hoisted first and lowered last. No such flag or pennant may be placed above the flag of the United States or to the United States flag’s right.

(g)When flags of two or more nations are displayed, they are to be flown from separate staffs of the same height. The flags should be of approximately equal size. International usage forbids the display of the flag of one nation above that of another nation in time of peace.

(h)When the flag of the United States is displayed from a staff projecting horizontally or at an angle from the window sill, balcony, or front of a building, the union of the flag should be placed at the peak of the staff unless the flag is at half-staff. When the flag is suspended over a sidewalk from a rope extending from a house to a pole at the edge of the sidewalk, the flag should be hoisted out, union first, from the building.

(i)When displayed either horizontally or vertically against a wall, the union should be uppermost and to the flag’s own right, that is, to the observer’s left. When displayed in a window, the flag should be displayed in the same way, with the union or blue field to the left of the observer in the street.

(j)When the flag is displayed over the middle of the street, it should be suspended vertically with the union to the north in an east and west street or to the east in a north and south street.

(k)When used on a speaker’s platform, the flag, if displayed flat, should be displayed above and behind the speaker. When displayed from a staff in a church or public auditorium, the flag of the United States of America should hold the position of superior prominence, in advance of the audience, and in the position of honor at the clergyman’s or speaker’s right as he faces the audience. Any other flag so displayed should be placed on the left of the clergyman or speaker or to the right of the audience.

(l)The flag should form a distinctive feature of the ceremony of unveiling a statue or monument, but it should never be used as the covering for the statue or monument.

(m)The flag, when flown at half-staff, should be first hoisted to the peak for an instant and then lowered to the half-staff position. The flag should be again raised to the peak before it is lowered for the day. On Memorial Day the flag should be displayed at half-staff until noon only, then raised to the top of the staff. By order of the President, the flag shall be flown at half-staff upon the death of principal figures of the United States Government and the Governor of a State, territory, or possession, as a mark of respect to their memory. In the event of the death of other officials or foreign dignitaries, the flag is to be displayed at half-staff according to Presidential instructions or orders, or in accordance with recognized customs or practices not inconsistent with law. In the event of the death of a present or former official of the government of any State, territory, or possession of the United States, the death of a member of the Armed Forces from any State, territory, or possession who dies while serving on active duty, or the death of a first responder working in any State, territory, or possession who dies while serving in the line of duty, the Governor of that State, territory, or possession may proclaim that the National flag shall be flown at half-staff, and the same authority is provided to the Mayor of the District of Columbia with respect to present or former officials of the District of Columbia, members of the Armed Forces from the District of Columbia, and first responders working in the District of Columbia. When the Governor of a State, territory, or possession, or the Mayor of the District of Columbia, issues a proclamation under the preceding sentence that the National flag be flown at half-staff in that State, territory, or possession or in the District of Columbia because of the death of a member of the Armed Forces, the National flag flown at any Federal installation or facility in the area covered by that proclamation shall be flown at half-staff consistent with that proclamation. The flag shall be flown at half-staff 30 days from the death of the President or a former President; 10 days from the day of death of the Vice President, the Chief Justice or a retired Chief Justice of the United States, or the Speaker of the House of Representatives; from the day of death until interment of an Associate Justice of the Supreme Court, a Secretary of an executive or military department, a former Vice President, or the Governor of a State, territory, or possession; and on the day of death and the following day for a Member of Congress. The flag shall be flown at half-staff on Peace Officers Memorial Day, unless that day is also Armed Forces Day. As used in this subsection—

(1)the term “half-staff” means the position of the flag when it is one-half the distance between the top and bottom of the staff;

(2)the term “executive or military department” means any agency listed under section 101 and 102 of title 5;

(3)the term “Member of Congress” means a Senator, a Representative, a Delegate, or the Resident Commissioner from Puerto Rico; and

(4)the term “first responder” means a “public safety officer” as defined in section 1204 of title I of the Omnibus Crime Control and Safe Streets Act of 1968 (34 U.S.C. 10284).

(n)When the flag is used to cover a casket, it should be so placed that the union is at the head and over the left shoulder. The flag should not be lowered into the grave or allowed to touch the ground.

(o)When the flag is suspended across a corridor or lobby in a building with only one main entrance, it should be suspended vertically with the union of the flag to the observer’s left upon entering. If the building has more than one main entrance, the flag should be suspended vertically near the center of the corridor or lobby with the union to the north, when entrances are to the east and west or to the east when entrances are to the north and south. If there are entrances in more than two directions, the union should be to the east.

Notes & Related Subsidiaries

Historical and Revision Notes

Revised SectionSource (U.S. Code)Source (Statutes at Large) 736:175.June 22, 1942, ch. 435, § 3, 56 Stat. 378; Dec. 22, 1942, ch. 806, § 3, 56 Stat. 1075; July 9, 1953, ch. 183, 67 Stat. 142; July 7, 1976, Pub. L. 94–344, (6)–(11), 90 Stat. 811; Sept. 13, 1994, Pub. L. 103–322, title XXXII, § 320922(b), 108 Stat. 2131.

Editorial Notes

Amendments

2018—Subsec. (m). Pub. L. 115–123, § 10102(a), in sixth sentence of introductory provisions, substituted “possession of the United States,” for “possession of the United States or” and “former officials of the District of Columbia,” for “former officials of the District of Columbia and” and inserted “or the death of a first responder working in any State, territory, or possession who dies while serving in the line of duty,” after “while serving on active duty,” and “, and first responders working in the District of Columbia” before the period. Subsec. (m)(2). Pub. L. 115–123, § 10102(b)(1), substituted a semicolon for “, United States Code; and”. Subsec. (m)(4). Pub. L. 115–123, § 10102(b)(2), (3), added par. (4). 2007—Subsec. (m). Pub. L. 110–41, in sixth sentence, inserted “or the death of a member of the Armed Forces from any State, territory, or possession who dies while serving on active duty” after “present or former official of the government of any State, territory, or possession of the United States” and substituted “, and the same authority is provided to the Mayor of the District of Columbia with respect to present or former officials of the District of Columbia and members of the Armed Forces from the District of Columbia. When the Governor of a State, territory, or possession, or the Mayor of the District of Columbia, issues a proclamation under the preceding sentence that the National flag be flown at half-staff in that State, territory, or possession or in the District of Columbia because of the death of a member of the Armed Forces, the National flag flown at any Federal installation or facility in the area covered by that proclamation shall be flown at half-staff consistent with that proclamation.” for period at end.

Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

Effective Date

of 2018 Amendment Pub. L. 115–123, div. A, § 10102(c), Feb. 9, 2018, 132 Stat. 64, provided that: “The

Amendments

made by this section [amending this section] shall apply with respect to deaths of first responders occurring on or after the date of the enactment of this Act [Feb. 9, 2018].” Finding Pub. L. 110–41, § 2, June 29, 2007, 121 Stat. 233, provided that: “Congress finds that members of the Armed Forces of the United States defend the freedom and security of the United States.”

Executive Documents

Proc. No. 3044. Display of Flag at Half-Staff Upon Death of Certain Officials and Former Officials Proc. No. 3044, Mar. 1, 1954, 19 F.R. 1235, as amended by Proc. No. 3948, Dec. 12, 1969, 34 F.R. 19699, provided: WHEREAS it is appropriate that the flag of the United States of America be flown at half-staff on Federal buildings, grounds, and facilities upon the death of principal officials and former officials of the Government of the United States and the Governors of the States, Territories, and possessions of the United States as a mark of respect to their memory; and WHEREAS it is desirable that rules be prescribed for the uniform observance of this mark of respect by all executive departments and agencies of the Government, and as a guide to the people of the Nation generally on such occasions: NOW, THEREFORE, I, DWIGHT D. EISENHOWER, President of the United States of America and Commander in Chief of the armed forces of the United States, do hereby prescribe and proclaim the following rules with respect to the display of the flag of the United States of America at half-staff upon the death of the officials hereinafter designated: 1. The flag of the United States shall be flown at half-staff on all buildings, grounds, and naval vessels of the Federal Government in the District of Columbia and throughout the United States and its Territories and possessions for the period indicated upon the death of any of the following-designated officials or former officials of the United States: (a) The President or a former President: for thirty days from the day of death. The flag shall also be flown at half-staff for such period at all United States embassies, legations, and other facilities abroad, including all military facilities and naval vessels and stations. (b) The Vice President, the Chief Justice or a retired Chief Justice of the United States, or the Speaker of the House of Representatives: for ten days from the day of death. (c) An Associate Justice of the Supreme Court, a member of the Cabinet, a former Vice President, the President pro tempore of the Senate, the Majority Leader of the Senate, the Minority Leader of the Senate, the Majority Leader of the House of Representatives, or the Minority Leader of the House of Representatives: from the day of death until interment. 2. The flag of the United States shall be flown at half-staff on all buildings, grounds, and naval vessels of the Federal Government in the metropolitan area of the District of Columbia on the day of death and on the following day upon the death of a United States Senator, Representative, Territorial Delegate, or the Resident Commissioner from the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, and it shall also be flown at half-staff on all buildings, grounds, and naval vessels of the Federal Government in the State, Congressional District, Territory, or Commonwealth of such Senator, Representative, Delegate, or Commissioner, respectively, from the day of death until interment. 3. The flag of the United States shall be flown at half-staff on all buildings and grounds of the Federal Government in a State, Territory, or possession of the United States upon the death of the Governor of such State, Territory, or possession from the day of death until interment. 4. In the event of the death of other officials, former officials, or foreign dignitaries, the flag of the United States shall be displayed at half-staff in accordance with such orders or instructions as may be issued by or at the direction of the President, or in accordance with recognized customs or practices not inconsistent with law. 5. The heads of the several departments and agencies of the Government may direct that the flag of the United States be flown at half-staff on buildings, grounds, or naval vessels under their jurisdiction on occasions other than those specified herein which they consider proper, and that suitable military honors be rendered as appropriate. IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand and caused the Seal of the United States of America to be affixed. DONE at the City of Washington this 1st day of March in the year of our Lord nineteen hundred and fifty-four, and of the Independence of the United States of America the one hundred and seventy-eighth. [seal] Dwight D. Eisenhower.

§7 Position and Manner of Display

Summary

Title 4, §7

Notes & Related Subsidiaries

Historical and Revision Notes

Editorial Notes

Amendments

Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

Effective Date

Amendments

Executive Documents

Citations & Metadata