How should the American flag be property displayed? We found out.
Memorial Day is the beginning of a string of holidays that pay tribute to American patriotism, with Flag Day on June 14 and the Fourth of July following quickly after.
Ahead of these holidays, The Providence Journal received a few What and Why’s asking about flag etiquette or, a little more pointedly, asking us to remind others of flag etiquette. The American flag is considered a living symbol of our country, after all, and is therefore worthy of respect.
The Journal took a look at flag etiquette as outlined by the Federal Flag Code, as well as where you can retire a flag in Rhode Island and why flag etiquette isn’t enforceable.
What is U.S. flag etiquette?
If you’re going to display an American flag, the Federal Flag Code sets forward the proper protocols. Here are some of the key points:
The flag should be displayed from sunrise to sunset. The flag should be raised briskly and lowered ceremoniously. It may be displayed at night if it is illuminated in the darkness.
Unless it is an all-weather flag that has been designed to be durable enough to withstand the elements, it should not be displayed during rain, snow and windstorms.
If displayed from a vehicle, it should be attached firmly to the chassis or clamped to the right fender. It should not be draped over the hood, top, sides or back of a vehicle.
The flag should never touch anything beneath it.
The flag should never be used as apparel (including as a costume or athletic wear), bedding or drapery. It should not have anything placed upon it, including markings, insignias, figures, designs or pictures.
It should be displayed in a way that it can not be easily torn, soiled or damaged. When it is in a condition that is “no longer a fitting emblem for display, shall be destroyed in a dignified way, preferably by burning.”
More on displaying your flag: How to properly display your American flag
How to have an American Flag destroyed in Rhode Island
If it’s time to retire your flag, the Rhode Island Veteran’s Memorial Cemetery accepts flags for retirement. They need to be delivered properly folded and there is a form.
Many Veterans of Foreign Wars and American Legion posts will also accept flags.
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How to properly display a flag on Memorial Day
On Memorial Day, the flag should be displayed at half-staff until noon, and then raised to the top of the staff.
When flying the flag at half-staff, it should be hoisted to the peak for a moment and then lowered to the half-staff position. At the end of the day, it should once again be raised to the peak before being lowered for the day.
Why are flags displayed without following the rules?
It’s impossible to speak to the motivations of why flags are displayed without following etiquette, but there are reasons why flag protocols aren’t enforced.
One, “most of the flag code contains no explicit enforcement mechanisms,” according to the Congressional Research Service.
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And two, when attempts were made to enforce flag protocols, they lost in the court challenges.
The Supreme Court struck down flag-misuse laws that punished verbal flag disparagement and disrespectful flag displays in Street v. New York (in this case, a decorated war veteran burned a flag in protest of a civil rights leader being shot) and in Spence v. Washington (a college student hung a flag upside down with a peace sign on it in protest of the Kent State University shooting)as violations of free speech.
As a result, the protocols are guidelines.
What and Why RI is a weekly feature by The Providence Journal to explore our readers' curiosity. If you have a question about Rhode Island, big or small, email it to klandeck@gannett.com. She loves a good question.
This article originally appeared on The Providence Journal: American flag protocols ahead of Memorial Day, Flag Day, July Fourth
