Respecting the Stars and Stripes: A Guide to Proper Flag Etiquette
27 June 2026

As communities across the nation continue to demonstrate their patriotism, citizens are reminded of the established protocols for handling and displaying the American flag. The United States Flag Code is a set of federal guidelines that establish the advisory rules for the display, care, and respectful treatment of the American flag. Formally established as law on June 22, 1942, it outlines the customs and etiquette for everything from hoisting and lowering the flag to folding it and respectfully retiring it when it becomes worn.

The Code is part of federal law, specifically located in Title 4 of the United States Code, Chapter 1. However, it is important to note that the Flag Code functions as a guide for voluntary civilian compliance. Despite its voluntary nature for civilians, central to these guidelines is the principle that the flag represents a living country and should itself be considered a living thing, requiring specific care in both its public exhibition and daily handling.

When displaying the flag outdoors, it is customary to fly it only from sunrise to sunset. However, citizens wishing to display the flag twenty-four hours a day may do so provided the flag is properly illuminated during the hours of darkness. The flag should always be hoisted briskly and lowered ceremoniously. If displayed flat against a wall or in a window, the union—the blue field of stars—must be uppermost and located to the flag’s own right, which translates to the observer's left. Additionally, standard flags should not be flown during inclement weather unless an all-weather flag is specifically utilized.

Proper handling of the flag requires constant vigilance to ensure it remains pristine. The most fundamental rule of handling is that the flag must never touch anything beneath it, including the ground, the floor, water, or merchandise. It should never be carried flat or horizontally, but always aloft and free. Furthermore, the flag should not be draped over the hood, top, sides, or back of a vehicle, nor should it ever be used as wearing apparel, bedding, or drapery.
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Eventually, flags become worn, torn, or faded despite the best efforts of their caretakers. The Flag Code explicitly addresses this, stating that when a flag is in such condition that it is no longer a fitting emblem for display, it must be destroyed in a dignified way. The preferred method for retiring an unserviceable American flag is burning. This process is typically handled with solemn ceremony by local American Legion posts, Veterans of Foreign Wars chapters, or Boy Scout troops, who regularly accept old flags from the public to ensure their proper and respectful retirement.