Guys, what’s the general consensus on displaying the flag in both the rain, and at night?
I always thought that the flag was to be taken in during bad weather, i.e., rain, and/or at night. But it seems that more and more, I’m seeing the flag just being used like some mundane decoration and left out at night, in the pouring rain, without any seeming consideration for respect that ought be accorded to it.
ARE there general rules covering how to display it in the rain and at night?
Ordinarily it should be displayed only between sunrise and sunset, although the Flag Code permits night time display “when a patriotic effect is desired.” Similarly, the flag should be displayed only when the weather is fair, except when an all-weather flag is displayed. (By presidential proclamation and law, the flag is displayed continuously at certain honored locations such as the United States Marine Corps Memorial in Arlington and Lexington Green.)
It should be illuminated if displayed at night.
pyrman’s got it. here’s another link to a site with etiquette and more on the rules.
http://www.usa-flag-site.org/etiquette.shtml
It drives me crazy too to see how our flag is treated sometimes. I can only hope it is out of ignorance, but even then…
A small set of shops near me is currently flying what can only be described as a tattered rag. I’ve wanted more than once to replace it myself.
…and I guess, the official version:
Thanks for the information, guys. I guess it comes down to personal honor in the way that you treat the flag?
Dave, I agree with you. I won’t even get into how many inappropriate, mundane locations I’ve seen the flag displayed and left to be forgotten or neglected, or serving as some personal statement for who knows what reason? One guy had about five of them draped over his Corvette at a local car show–a clear violation of the flag code.
If I were you, I’d march out to that store and talk to the owner. Tell them it’s a disgrace to display such a tattered flag. Suggest he put out a sign for donations to buy a new one if he can’t afford to replace it.
And i think the same rules apply to most nations. I know when i was in the forces the flag used to go up at 6am and down at 6pm. Though it did stay up in bad weather as well.
Theres a guy round the corner from me flying a Union Flag upside down. It might not look like there is an up side down, but there is, and i would have thought if your going to fly it, you would check.
At US military installations, at least Naval ones, the flag is raised at 0800 and lowered at sunset. It is flown during inclement weather but not weather (hurricanes for instance) that might destroy or damage it. On ships, it is flown day and night while the ship is underway.
I know that the Union Jack has an upside but most people that I know in the USA are unaware of it.
I think most people in the UK are not aware of it either.
And i did some checking and seems i was wrong. I know, first time for everything. The UK doesn’t have anything like the US Flag code. There is nothing that says what time the flag should be flown or in what weather. Only which way up it should be. And there are only certain days in which the flag muct be flown on goverment buildings. Theres no such thiong as flag desecration and there no set way to fold it, as you have in the US. In fact, the flag isn’t even official the flag of the UK, no law was ever passed. It just happened to become what it is.
i did not know there was an up and down to the union jack. now i do. ssshhh don’t tell the judges at nationals
The United Kingdom Union FLAG, when flown upside down, is a DISTRESS signal.
SFAIK, the Union JACK is only a Jack when flown from a JACKSTAFF, ie when flown on the bow of a Naval Vessel.
I’ll go & lie down now… [:^)]
Karl, I fly the US flag and the Marine Corps flag 24/7 unless its going to rain then I take them down. I think it looks disgraceful to have the flag out in the rain but that’s just me. I have a mercury vapor light above them as well as flying the flag in the dark is disgraceful as well.
I’m sorry to all. I cannot tell the difference between the English flag being rightside up or upside down.
It looks the same to me. ( And I’m allowed to glue small parts???)
timmy, if you look at the flag posted above, in the top left corner the white band is thcker above the red than it is below it. Turn it upside down, and its the opposite. But be better explained with a pic, so give me a few mins.
Jon, i always used to think that, but apparently it isn’t.I mention this on a history forum and was quickly rebuked.
But i believe yyou are right about the distress signal.
timmy, if you scroll down this page, on the right is the right and wrong way to fly the flag.
OK . Now I get it. Its not that its "turned " upside down But flipped over. Then its backwards.
And this whole time I’v been trying to stand on my head in front of the compootor !
Why does my neck hurt…
Ye, flipped over probably says it better. All i know is, i would get my backside chewed big time by my Sergant major if i ever got it wrong.
Next time mate, use a cushion.