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Flag Facts

• Vexillology is the study of flags. The word comes from "Vexillum", a flag-like cloth used by the Romans.
• The 50 stars on the U.S. flag represent the states and that the 13 stripes represent the original 13 British colonies.
• The colors of the U.S flag are red, white, and blue -- white signifies purity and innocence, red signifies hardiness & valor, and blue signifies vigilance, perseverance & justice.
• Betsy Ross made the first U.S. flag reflecting the basic design that is still used today.
• Since 1776, there have been 28 different versions of the U.S. flag.
• On June 14, 1777, Congress adopted a resolution calling for a flag with thirteen stripes, alternating red and white, and with a blue canton or “union”, with thirteen white stars.
• On April 4, 1816, a new U.S. Flag scheme of thirteen stripes, alternating red and white, and a blue canton on which a white star would be added for each state was made official. Each star would be added to the flag on the July 4th following the admission of the new state to the Union.
• In flag design, the star is associated with unity, independence, or to represent the constituent parts of a nation.
• Although the scheme of the flag was made official in 1816, the law regarding the exact layout of the flag was still vague. For this reason, a variety of star arrangements was in existence during the nineteenth century.
• In 1912 the U.S. government specified official patterns, proportions and colors.
• The latest version of the U.S. Flag showing 50 stars was introduced on July 4, 1960.
• The U.S. flag was first referred to as “The Star-Spangled Banner” by Francis Scott Key in 1814 when he wrote the poem, “The Defense of Fort McHenry”. This poem later became our national anthem.
• The U.S. flag was first referred to as “Old Glory” by William Driver, a sea captain from Salem, Massachusetts, in 1824 when he cried out “Old Glory” upon seeing a flag given as a gift first untangled from the bow of his ship as it left the harbor. That flag is now on display at the Smithsonian Institution.
• The U.S Flag was first displayed in a land battle during the American Revolution on August 16, 1777.
• The U.S Flag was first displayed in a naval battle in the Pacific on March 25, 1813.
• The U.S. Flag was first displayed in the Antarctica in 1840.
• The U.S. Flag was first displayed at the North Pole on April 6, 1909.
• The U.S. Flag was first displayed on the moon by Neil Armstrong on July 20, 1969.

U.S. Flag Display Calendar

It is proper to display the U.S. flag from sunrise to sunset on all days the weather permits. The flag may also be displayed at night if illuminated by a light. It is even more important to display the flag on national holidays and days of importance, including:

Days of Importance to Display the U.S. Flag

Holiday/Important Day	2008
New Years Day	January 1
Martin Luther King Day	Third Monday in January
Inauguration Day	January 20
Lincoln's Birthday	February 12
President's Day	Third Monday in February
Easter Sunday	March 23
Mother's Day	Second Sunday in May
Peace Officers Memorial Day (half-staff)	May 15
Armed Forces Day	Third Saturday in May
Memorial Day (half-staff until noon)	Last Monday in May
Flag Day and Army Day	June 14
Father's Day	Third Sunday in June
Independence Day	July 4
Labor Day	First Monday in September
Patriot Day (half-staff)	September 11
Constitution Day and Air Force Day	September 17
Gold Star Mothers' Day	Last Sunday in September
Columbus Day	Second Monday in October
Navy Day	October 27
National Election Day	First Tuesday in November
Marine Corps Day	November 10
Veteran's Day	November 11
Thanksgiving Day	Fourth Thursday in November
Pearl Harbor Remembrance day (half-staff)	December 7
Christmas Day	December 25

1. On December 18, 2001 President Bush signed Public Law No. 107-89 designating Patriot Day as September 11 to honor the individuals who lost their lives as a result of the terrorist attacks. People of the United States are also asked to observe a moment of silence on that day in remembrance of the victims.
2. In accordance with a Presidential Proclamation dated December 6, 2002 and Public Law 103-308 as amended by Congress.

Calendar provided by NIFDA.

Displaying the U.S. Flag

On a Pole With Another Flag

When flying your organization, state or city flag from the same pole as the U.S. flag, Old Glory should always be at the top of the pole, in a position of honor.

Against a Wall or in a Window

When displayed either horizontally or vertically, the union or blue field, should be to the observer's left.

With the Flags of Other Nations

Each flag should be the same size and displayed at the same height. It is inappropriate to display one country's flag above another.

From a Staff Adjacent to Others

The U.S. flag should be placed in a position of honor, which is the extreme left, as the flags are most frequently viewed.

In a Church or Auditorium

When the U.S. flag is displayed on a staff situated on a platform with a speaker, it should be to the speaker's right. If it is displayed flat, it should be positioned above and behind the speaker.

At Half-Staff or Half-Mast

Half staff is defined as half the distance from the top to the bottom of a flagpole. If flying a single flag, the center point of the U.S. flag should be aligned with the center point of the flagpole. If more than one flag is displayed, measure the length from the top of the first flag to the bottom of the last. Then align the center point of the flag group with the center point of the pole.

• When a flag is flown at half-staff, it should be raised to the peak for an instant, and then lowered to the half-staff position.
• If your flag is mounted to a wall and cannot be lowered to the half-staff position, it is appropriate to tie a black mourning ribbon above the flag.

Flying a Flag Half-Staff

Half-staff is defined as half the distance from the top of a flagpole to the bottom. If flying a single flag, the center point of the US flag should be aligned with the center point of the pole.

If more than one flag is displayed on a pole, they all should be lowered to half-staff. Measure the length from the top of the first flag to the bottom of the last. Align the center point of the flag group with the center point of the pole.

When a flag is flown at half-staff, it should be raised to the peak for an instant and then lowered to the half-staff position. When retiring the flag at the end of the day, this procedure should be repeated.

If your flag is on an outrigger flagpole or mounted on a wall and cannot be flown at half-staff, it is appropriate to tie a black mourning ribbon above the flag.

Folding Your Flag

When Old Glory is not flying, it is proper etiquette to fold it in the following way. Please keep in mind that a flag should not touch the ground while being folded, nor should it be stored long-term in a folded condition. This ceremony is most easily performed with two people using a table if necessary.

1. Begin folding the flag lengthwise by bringing the lower edge flush horizontally with the upper edge. For larger flags, this may require two people.	2. Fold the flag lengthwise again by bringing the central fold flush horizontally with the upper edge.	3. The person at the fly end should then form a triangle by making the lower corner of the flag touch the upper edge.
4. The outer point should then be folded towards the hoist end.	5. Fold the upper corner to the lower edge. Continue this process until the hoist end is reached.	6. Tuck the remaining hoist portion into the folded part to secure the bundle.
7. Your flag should look like this.