Girard Schools
On-Site Links
External Links
-click HERE to view Flag flying instructions
Flag Etiquette
 
For nearly 50 years after Congress authorized the design for our flag, citizens had no uniform set of rules to guide them in displaying and showing respect for the flag.
 
To supply such a guide, a National Flag Conference was held in Washington. D.C. on Flag Day, June 14 1923. Representatives of sixty-eight organizations met and drew up a Flag Code, which was revised by a second Conference in 1924.
 
Congress in 1942 adopted a resolution which made the Flag Code a law. This resolution was amended on July 7, 1976; and the Flag Code as it is commonly called became Public Law 94-344, 94th Congress.
 
Here are some of the provisions contained in it:
 
"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 24 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 out-of-doors on the days when the weather is inclement. The flag should be displayed daily, weather permitting, on or near the main administration building of every public institution. The flag should be displayed in or near every polling place on Election days. The flag should be displayed during school days in or near every schoolhouse.
 
Flag Bar Image
 
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.

 
1. 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.
 
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, and other national flags in positions of equal prominence or honor, with that of the flag of the United States at the headquarters of the United Nations.

-click HERE to view Flag flying instructions

Ettiquette Image
2. When flags of States, cities, or localities, or pennants of societies are flown on the same halyard with the flag of the United States, the latter should always be at the peak.
 
3. When the flags are flown from adjacent staffs, the flag of the United States should be hoisted first and lowered last. No such flag or pennant may be placed above the flag of the United States or to the United States flag's right.
 
4. The flag of the United States of America, when it is displayed with another flag against a wall from crossed staffs, should be on the right, the flag's own right, and its staff should be in front of the staff of the other flag.
 
5. The flag of the United States of America should be at the center and at the highest point of the group when a number of flags of States or localities or pennants of societies are grouped and displayed from staffs.
 
6. 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.
 
Churches, Auditoriums
 
7. When used on a speaker's platform, the flag, if displayed flat, should be displayed above and behind the speaker. When displayed from a staff in a church or public auditorium, the flag of the United States of America should hold the position of superior prominence, in advance of the audience, and in the position of honor at the clergyman's or speaker's right as he faces the audience. Any other flag so displayed should be placed on the left of the clergyman or speaker or the right of the audience.
 
Half-Staff
 
The flag, when flown at half-staff, should be first hoisted to the peak for an instant and then lowered to the half-staff position. The flag should be again raised to the peak before it is lowered for the day. On Memorial Day, the flag should be displayed at half-staff until noon only, then raised to the top of the staff. By order of the President, the flag shall be flown at half-staff upon the death of principal figures of the United States Government and the Governor of the State, territory or possession, as a mark of respect to their memory. In the event of the death of other officials or foreign dignitaries, the flag is to be displayed at half-staff according to Presidential instructions or orders, or in accordance with recognized customs or practices not inconsistent with law.
 
In the event of the death of a present or former official of the government of any State, territory or possession of the United States, the Governor of that State, territory or possession may proclaim that the National flag shall be flown at half-staff.
 
Note: the U.S. flag should always be on its own right in relation to other flags on adjacent staffs - to the left of the observer - except when displayed as in #5.
The Origin and History of our Flag
 
The story of the Stars and Stripes is the story of the nation itself; the evolution of the flag is symbolic of the evolution of our free institutions and their development as part of the great nation they represent.
In the early days of the Republic. when the Thirteen Original States were still British Colonies the banners borne by the Revolutionary forces were widely varied.
 
The local flags and colonial devices displayed in battle on land and sea during the first months of the American Revotution carried the various grievances that the individual states had against the Mother Country. The first public reference to the flag was published on March 10, 1774. A Boston newspaper, the Massachusetts Spy, ran this poem to the flag:
 
"A ray of bright glory now beams from afar.
Blest drawn of an empire to rise:
The American Ensign now sparkles a star
Which shall shortly flame wide through the skies."
 
On June 15 1775. when General Washington had been appointed commander-in-chief of the Continental forces for the defense of American Liberty, the Continental Congress was still corresponding with King George to present their grievances.
 
In the fall of 1775, the revolting colonies chose aflag that reflected their feeling of unity with the Mother Country, but also expressed their demand to obtain justice and liberty.
 
In Taunton, MA, a flag was unfurled in 1774 which carries the British Jack in the canton and was combined with a solid red with the words, "Liberty and Union" printed on it.
 
The famous Rattlesnake flag carried by the Minutemen in 1775 showed thirteen red and white stripes with a rattlesnake emblazoned across it' and the warning words "Don't Tread on Me."
 
In 1775 the banner that flew over Fort Moultrie displayed a crescent on a blue field with the word "Liberty" printed in white. When this flag was shot down by enemy muskets a brave sergeant named Jasper nailed it back to the staff at the risk of his life.
 
The Pine Tree Flag which flew over the troops at Bunker Hill in 1775 displayed the pine tree symbol of the Massachusetts Bay Colony. It was a white flag with top and bottom stripe of blue and it showed a green pine tree with the words "Liberty Tree-An Appeal to God."
 
The first flag or ensign to represent the colonies at sea was raised by John Paul Jones from the deck of the ship Alfred on Dec. 3, 1775. A month later George Washington displayed this same design and named it the Grand Union Flag. This was on Jan. 2nd, 1776. It had thirteen alternate red and white stripes and a blue field with the crosses of Saint Andrew and Saint George on it.
 
After July 4, 1776, the people of the colonies felt the need of a national flag to symbolize their new spirit of unity and independence:
 
'Resolved that the flag of the thirteen United States be thirteen stripes alternate red and white: that the union be thirteen stars, white on a blue field."
 
The significance of the colors was defined thus: "White signifies Purity and Innocence; Red, Hardiness and Valor; Blue. Vigilance, Perserverance and Justice."
 
Francis Hopkinson. signer of the Declaration of Independence and a member of the Continental Congress is credited with having designed the American flag.
 
Betsy Ross. a flag maker of Philadelphia is credited by some historians with having made the first flag and with having suggested that the stars be five-pointed.
 
The home of Betsy Ross at 239 Arch Street. Philadelphia. is a National Shrine and the flag flies on a staff from her third floor window. Thousands of people of all nations visit this house, which is known as the Birthplace of Old Glory.
 
Betsy Ross had a grandson. William J Canby who wrote in 1857 that he was told the story as a boy of eleven by his eighty-four-year old grandmother, Betsy Ross. It is true that Betsy Ross was known as a flagmaker and that there is in the archives of the Navy an order to Elizabeth Ross "for making Ships Colors for 14 pounds 12 shillings and 2 pence, paid to her exactly two weeks before the Marine Committee's resolution of June 14th, 1777, which adopted the theme of the red and white striped Union Flag of Holland to the flag of the 13 United States of America."
 
Ezra Stiles, President of Yale University, recorded in his diary the resolution passed by Congress in 1777.
The Congress have substituted a new Constella of 13 stars (instead of the union) in the Continental Colors.
 
On May 1st. 1795, our flag was changed to 15 stripes and 15 stars with the inclusion of Vermont (1791) and Kentucky (1792) into the Union.
 
It was this flag that was "so gallantly streaming" over Fort McHenry when Francis Scott Key wrote The Star Spangled Banner. The 15 striped. 15 starred flag was flying from 1795 to 1818.
 
On April 4th, 1818. Congress enacted the following law which is still in effect:
 
That the Flag of the United States be 13 horizontal stripes, alternate red and white, and that on the admission of every State into the Union, one star to be added on the Fourth of July next succeeding admission."
-click HERE to view Flag flying instructions
Girard Unified School District 248 - 415 North Summit - Girard, KS 66743