Starting with this weekend, people all over the country will be grilling, swimming and celebrating the end of school, as well as honoring those who gave their lives to protect his country. Memorial Day is the first of three holidays in which Americans traditionally fly the U.S. flag in honor of our great nation. But before we Flag Day and the 4th of July come around, Memorial Day is the “official” start to summer and our appreciation for the flag we all salute. We thought this would be a good time to make sure your holidays are recognizing and honoring our country the proper way, so here are 5 tips for displaying the American flag that you should know.
FLAGPOLE (IN THE GROUND)
Many people choose to go the traditional route and install a flagpole in their yard. Whether it is out in front with a light on it, surrounded by landscaping, or on the side of the house next to your favorite athletic team or school, when on a flagpole anchored in the ground, the flag should be raised briskly but lowered in a slow fashion. It is an invaluable representation of our nation and those who fought to protect it. Unless you do have a spotlight on it during the night, the flag should fly free during the day and taken down at night. And if you do have multiple flags on one flagpole, the American flag should ALWAYS be the one on top.
FLAGPOLE (FROM A HOUSE)
If you don’t go the monument style approach, a flagpole attached to your house is also an acceptable way to display the old red, white and blue. When being displayed on a flagpole coming from a house, the stars should be higher than any other part of the flag, placed at the highest point of the flag pole. If it is hanging horizontally from the house, the stars should ALWAYS be on top.
FLYING FROM A WINDOW
If you live in an apartment or condo, you might not have the opportunity to hang your flag from a flagpole. If this is the case, hanging out your window is a perfectly acceptable option. When displaying the flag from a window, the stars should be positioned on your right side, so that when someone is looking at it, the stars appear on their left.
IN A ROW
One of the most common usages of flags at this time of year is at cemeteries, especially on Memorial Day where we honor those who paid the ultimate price for our country. If you are displaying flags in a row, the American flag should on the left side of the person looking at the monument, headstone or other elements. If you happen to have multiple flags, for example, state and local flags, those should be flown at a lower height than the American flag.
IN A PARADE
From Austintown to Warren and Poland to Canfield, parades will be taking place across our Valley honoring our brave men and women who served our country selfishly and faithfully. If you happen to be a participant in one of the many parades taking place, you should not only remember to toss out good candy but take notice of how you are displaying the American flag. While many may hang if from an automobile or carry it with other people when in a parade with other flags, the U.S. flag should be to the first thing a spectator sees so be sure it is on the left side.
As we officially kick off the summer season, we do so with respect and admiration for the people who died to give us the freedoms we will celebrate this weekend. It is only fitting to remember them and honor our country properly by displaying the flag they died defending and we continue to celebrate every day.
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