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Memorial Day is a federal holiday in the United States that honors all Americans who died while serving in the country’s armed forces.
It’s a great day to fly the American Flag.
The Proper Way To Fly The American Flag
I remember when I was a little girl, my father would proudly put out our flag each Memorial Day, July 4th, and Flag Day. I loved to watch the flag blowing in the wind. It was in these early days, with my father’s guidance, that I embraced my patriotic side.
When I was married, we would display our flag each holiday, just like I did when I was a kid.
Then 9/11 happened.
Now my flag flies all day and all night. In the almost fifteen years since 9/11, I have proudly flown the flag consistently with the exception of severe weather.
Of course, when 9/11 happened you could see flags all over the place; hanging from homes, windows, on trucks and cars, boats and motorcycles. They were everywhere.
Slowly but surely, they started coming down until only the regular flag flyers remained.
I often wonder what happened in the minds of all the people who decided one day to take their flag down. What shifted for them? Why was it important one day to fly the flag and demonstrate our commitment to our country and the next day not?
Maybe you’ve never flown a flag or got away from it after the effects of 9/11 faded from your memory. Either way, if you’re interested in flying a flag, here’s a few things you need to know:
For a complete list of rules and regulations for flag flying visit US History.
Flag As Seen Over Pearl Harbor – Oahu, HI
United States Code Title 4 Chapter 1 — The Flag
§6. Time and occasions for 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.
- The flag should be hoisted briskly and lowered ceremoniously.
- The flag should not be displayed on days when the weather is inclement, except when an all-weather flag is displayed.
- The flag should be displayed on all days, especially on
- New Year’s Day, January 1
- Inauguration Day, January 20
- Martin Luther King Jr.’s birthday, third Monday in January
- Lincoln’s Birthday, February 12
- Washington’s Birthday, third Monday in February
- Easter Sunday (variable)
- Mother’s Day, second Sunday in May
- Armed Forces Day, third Saturday in May
- Memorial Day (half-staff until noon), the last Monday in May
- Flag Day, June 14
- Father’s Day, third Sunday in June
- Independence Day, July 4
- Labor Day, first Monday in September
- Constitution Day, September 17
- Columbus Day, second Monday in October
- Navy Day, October 27
- Veterans Day, November 11
- Thanksgiving Day, fourth Thursday in November
- Christmas Day, December 25
- and such other days as may be proclaimed by the President of the United States
- the birthdays of States (date of admission)
- and on State holidays.
- The flag should be displayed daily 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
If you live in a community governed by a HOA (Home Owners Association), and the HOA is prohibiting you from displaying your flag, the HOA is probably out of line. Your right to display the United States flag is protected by federal law. The “Freedom to Display the American Flag Act of 2005” makes it illegal for an HOA to restrict owners from displaying a U.S. flag.
Your HOA can, however, reasonably restrict the time, place, and manner of your flag display (provided the restrictions are to protect a substantial interest of the association). For example, your HOA can ban a U.S. flag that might be a danger, such as one on a rickety flagpole over a public sidewalk. The HOA probably also has the right to prohibit a flag so large it blocks a neighbor’s views.
Check your state’s laws. Some states prevent HOAs from banning certain other types of flags, such as Native American flags, state flags, or official U.S.military flags. As with federal law, however, state laws typically still give the HOA the right to reasonably regulate such things as the location and size of flags.
Flag As Seen Outside My Home – Methuen, MA
I hope you’ll join me this Memorial Day weekend and start a family tradition of flying the American Flag.
We live in this great country because of the sacrifice of the men and women who willingly served our country with honor and dignity.
[tweetthis]We are the home of the free, because of the brave.[/tweetthis]
Happy start of summer! Happy Memorial Day!
