Helpful Flag Etiquette Tips for Memorial Day

Helpful Flag Etiquette Tips for Memorial Day

Millions of Americans will be displaying their flags over Memorial Day weekend, and it's a wonderful way to show respect. Do you know the right way to do it?

Here are a few helpful reminders:

• On Memorial Day, the flag should be at half-staff until noon; then it should be hoisted to the very top of the staff.
• The flag should never touch the ground or the floor.
• The stars on the flag should always be up; it’s a signal of distress when a flag is hung upside-down.
• If you’re suspending the flag vertically, or against a wall, the stars should be to the flag’s own right, and to the left of the person hanging it.
• The flag should be displayed only between sunrise and sunset; if it’s hung overnight, it should be lit up. 

For more on flag etiquette, visit the Veterans of Foreign Wars website at www.vfw.org. Download the Federal Flag Code at www.senate.gov.