Flag Info

VETERANS OF FOREIGN WARS

OLSEN-McGRAW-THOMPSON-GOINS

VFW POST 6401 BONNER SPRINGS, KANSAS

An All-American / All-State Post 2008-2009

Federal Flag Code

In April 1818, Congress passed an act providing that the Flag should have thirteen horizontal stripes, alternating red and white, and that the union should display twenty stars, representing the number of states in the Union. It also provided that on the admission of every new state to the Union a star should be added on the following July 4th and this has been the regulation ever since, accounting for the number of stars now shown.

Public Law 344, passed by the 94th Congress, is known as the Federal Flag Code. It is the guide for all handling and display of the United States Flag.

It was established for the use of such civilians, civilian groups, or organizations as may not be required to conform with regulations declared by one or more executive departments of the Government of the United States.

The Code does not impose penalties for the misuse of the flag. That is left up to the states and to the Federal Government for the District of Columbia. Each state has its own flag code.

Folding the Flag

1. Two persons, facing each other, hold the Flag waist high and horizontally between them.

2. They fold the lower striped section, lengthwise, over the blue field. Hold bottom to top, edges together, securely.

3. Then fold the Flag again, lengthwise, folded edge to open edge.

4. A triangular fold is started along the length of the Flag, from the end to the heading, by bringing the striped corner of the folded edge to meet the open edge.

5. Outer point is turned inward parallel with the open edge, forming a second triangle.

6. Repeat the triangular folding until entire length of the Flag is folded.

7. When the Flag is completely folded only the triangular blue field should be visible.

U.S Flag Code Title 36 Chapter 10

To view the US Flag Code in its entirely.

History of the Flag

The Flag of the United States of America is one of the oldest of the national standards of the world; older than the Union Jack of Great Britain or the Tricolor of France.

During the early days of the Revolutionary War a variety of flags were used by the different colonies and military commands. Prominent among these were the "Pine Tree" and "Rattlesnake" flags with various arrangements and mottoes.

Late in 1775 a committee of Congress with Benjamin Franklin at the head, after consulting with Washington, then in command of the army at Cambridge, decided upon the form of a new flag. This flag consisted of thirteen stripes red and white, with the cross of St. George and St. Andrew on a blue field in the canton or union. This preceded the Declaration of Independence and indicated that the colonies had not wholly broken from the mother country. This flag was first unfurled by Washington, January 2, 1776. It was probably this flag which was raised by Paul Jones on his vessel and carried by the American fleet which sailed out of Philadelphia in February 1776.

During 1776 and 1777 a number of flags with thirteen stripes came into use and the need of a definite national emblem was realized. On June 14, 1777, Congress passed an act stating "That the Flag of the thirteen United States be thirteen stripes, alternating red and white, that the union be thirteen stars, white in a blue field, representing a new constellation." This is the birthday of the Flag as we now know it and June 14 is now celebrated as "Flag Day." This new flag was probably first displayed on land during the Battle at Fort Stanwix, New York, although there are a number of authorities who claim that the first Stars and Stripes displayed in battle was at the Battle of Bennington, Vermont, August 16th, 1777. At any rate, this flag, as displayed, remained the national standard until 1795. The first display of the Stars and Stripes by the Continental Army was when the Flag was hoisted over Fort Stanwix, New York, on August 3, 1777.

In the meantime Vermont and Kentucky had become states, and on January 13, 1794, Congress voted that the Flag should have fifteen stripes and fifteen stars. This Flag remained in use for twenty-three years, and it was "The Star Spangled Banner" of which Francis Scott Key wrote in 1814.

Displaying the Flag

1. 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.

2. The flag should be hoisted briskly and lowered ceremoniously.

3. The flag should not be displayed on days when the weather is inclement, except when an all weather flag is displayed.

4. The flag should be displayed on all special days, especially on:

New Year's Day, January 1 Inaugural Day, January 20

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 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 Christmas Day, December 25

birthdays of States (date of admission) and on State holidays.

and such other days as may be proclaimed by the President of the United States

5. The flag should be displayed daily on or near the main administration building of every public institution.

6. The flag should be displayed in or near every polling place on election days. (

7. The flag should be displayed during school days in or near every schoolhouse.

8. When the Flag is displayed from a staff projecting from a window sill, balcony or building front the union of the Flag should always be at the peak of the staff unless the Flag is at half-staff. When suspended over a sidewalk from a rope between a building and a pole at the edge of the sidewalk, the Flag should be hoisted out from the building, union first.

9. When displayed over the middle of the street, the Flag of the U.S.A. should be suspended vertically with the union to the north in an east and west street, or to the east in a north and south street.

10. When carried in a parade front with other flags the U. S. Flag should always be to the marching right of the other flags, or to the front and center of the flag line.

Below are the disposal rules as dictated by the Federal Government:

American flags which become torn or faded should be promptly removed from service. Worn out flags should NOT be thrown in the trash, but should be disposed of in a proper flag retirement ceremony. VFW Post 6401 collects these flags and properly disposes of them. If you have a flag that is no longer serviceable, please feel free to drop it off to one of our members for proper disposal.

Suggested Procedures for Disposing of a Faded, Worn Flag

1. The flag should be folded in its customary manner.

2. It is important that the fire be fairly large and of sufficient intensity to ensure complete burning of the flag.

3. Place the flag on the fire.

4. The individual (s) can come to attention, salute the flag, recite the Pledge of Allegiance and have a brief period of silent reflection.

5. After the flag is completely consumed, the fire should then be safely extinguished and the ashes buried.

6. Please make sure you are conforming to local/state fire codes or ordinances.

Disposing of the Flag

VFW 6401 members will accept flags that are being retired from service and will see to it they are properly and honorably disposed of..