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I pledge allegiance to the Flag of the United States of America, And to the Republic for which it stands, One Nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.

International Relations Flag Protocol
General Display
Parades and Ceremonies
Vehicles
Wearing Apparel and Drapery
Flag Holidays
Flag History
Florida State Flag

vex*il*lol*o*gy: n., the study of flags.

General Display

It is the universal custom to display the flag only from sunrise to sunset on buildings and on stationary flagstaffs in the open. However, when a patriotic effect is desired, the flag may be displayed twenty-four hours a day if properly illuminated during the hours of darkness.

The flag should be hoisted briskly and lowered ceremoniously.

The flag should not be displayed on days when the weather is inclement, except when an all-weather flag is displayed.

The flag should be displayed daily, on or near the main administration building of every public institution…in or near every polling place on election days…during school days in or near every schoolhouse.

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…for personnel of the Navy…when the church pennant may be flown above the flag.

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, with that of the flag of the United States at the headquarters of the United Nations.

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.

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.

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.

When a 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.

The flag should never:

touch anything beneath it, such as the ground, the floor, water or merchandise;

be fastened, displayed, used, or stored in such a manner as to permit it to be easily torn, soiled or damaged in any way;

be used as a covering for a ceiling;

have placed upon it, nor on any part of it, nor attached to it any mark, insignia, letter, word, figure, design, picture, or drawing of any nature;

be used as a receptacle for receiving, holding, carrying, or delivering anything.

The flag, when carried in a procession or 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.

The flag should not be displayed on a float in a parade except from a staff (or as against a wall or in a window).

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.

That no disrespect should be shown to the flag of the United States of America, the flag should not be dipped to any person or thing. Regimental colors, state flags, and organization or institutional flags are to be dipped as a mark of honor.

The flag should never be carried flat or horizontally, but always aloft and free.

During the ceremony of hoisting or lowering the flag or when the flag is passing in a parade or in review, 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.

Vehicles

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

Wearing Apparel and Drapery

The flag should never be used as wearing apparel, bedding, or drapery. It should never be festooned, drawn back, nor up, in folds, abut always allowed to fall free.

No part of the flag should ever be used as a costume or athletic uniform. However, a flag patch may be affixed to the uniform of military personnel, firemen, policemen, and members of patriotic organizations. The flag represents a living country and is itself considered a living thing. Therefore, the lapel flag pin being a replica, should be worn on the left lapel near the heart.

Flag Holidays
The flag should be displayed on all days, especially...
New Year's Day, January 1
Inauguration Day, January 20
Lincoln's Birthday, February 12
Washington's Birthday, third Monday in February
Easter Sunday, (variable)
Mothers' Day, second Sunday in May
Armed Forces Day, third Saturday in May
Memorial Day (half-staff until noon), the last Monday in May
Flag Day, June 14
Independence Day, July 4
Labor Day, first Monday in September
Constitution Day, September 17
Columbus Day, second Monday in October
Navy Day, October 27
Veterans' Day, November 11
Thanksgiving Day, fourth Thursday in November
Christmas Day, December 25

At half-mast for the entire day on:
Pearl Harbor Day, December 7
Peace Officers Memorial Day, May 15
Korean War Veterans Armistice Day, July 27

...such other days as may be proclaimed by the president of the United States; the birthdays of states (date of admission); and on state holidays.

The rules and customs presented herein are in accordance with the July 7, 1976, amendment to the Flag Code (Public Law 94-344, 94th Congress, S.J. Res 49).

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Flag History
For more than 200 years, the American flag has been the symbol of our nation’s unity, as well as a source of pride and inspiration for millions of citizens. Here are the highlights of its unique history.

On June 14, 1777, the Continental Congress passed an Act to establish an official flag for the new nation. The resolution ordered that "the flag of the United States be made of 13 stripes, alternate red and white; that the union be 13 stars, white in a blue field, representing a new constellation." On August 3, 1949, President Truman commemorated the occasion by officially declaring June 14th Flag Day.

While no one knows the exact origin of the first American flag, some historians believe it was designed by Congressman Francis Hopkinson and sewn by Philadelphia seamstress Betsy Ross.

Between 1777 and 1960, Congress passed several acts that changed the shape, design and arrangement of the flag and allowed for additional stars and stripes to be added to reflect the admission of each new state.

Today the flag consists of 13 horizontal stripes, seven red alternating with six white. The stripes represent the original 13 colonies, the stars represent the 50 states of the Union. The colors of the flag are symbolic as well. Red symbolizes hardiness and valor; white symbolizes purity and innocence; and blue represents vigilance, perseverance and justice.

An Inspiration to all...

Amateur poet Francis Scott Key was so inspired by the sight of the American flag still flying over Baltimore’s Fort McHenry after a British bombardment that he wrote the "Star-Spangled Banner" on September 14, 1814. It officially became our national anthem in 1931.

In 1892, the flag inspired James B. Upham and Francis Bellamy to write the "Pledge of Allegiance." It was first published in a magazine called "The Youth’s Companion."

Traveling Far and Wide...

In 1909, Robert Peary placed a flag sewn by his wife at the North Pole. He also left pieces of another flag along the way. It is the only time a person has been honored for cutting the flag.

In 1963, Barry Bishop placed the flag on top of Mount Everest.

In July 1969 the American flag was "flown" in space when Neil Armstrong placed it on the moon.

The first time the American flag was flown overseas on a foreign fort was in Libya, over Fort Derne, on the shores of Tripoli in 1972.

Florida State Flag
For more information on the State of Florida's flag please visit The State Flag and the Department of State. The Web site includes information on flag purchases, flag loans, and flag protocol and display.

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