United States Flag Etiquette Grady County OHCE Leaders Lesson July, 2011 Lesson Purpose: This lesson focuses on the United States flag history, United State Code that governs how the flag is handled, and flag etiquette. A periodic update for this lesson is recommended. Presentation Time: This lesson is designed to be presented in twenty minutes. Materials needed: 1. Member guides 2. Copies of the Star Spangled Banner which is located on page two of this guide. Lesson Preparation: 1. Attend the Leader training scheduled for June 28, 2011. 2. Read the Leaders Guide and highlight portions that are relevant for your presentation. 3. Practice giving the lesson. 4. Practice the Ice Breaker Activity. You may also want to collect and bring different U.S. flags which have been used prior to the current one which was adopted in 1960. Introduction: (Leaders You may want to start the lesson with the following Ice Breaker activity located on the following page or display a collection of flags that you have located representing different flags which have been used prior to the current flag.) 1
2 Source: GPO document S-Doc. S105-103 Our Flag. 1998.
Ice Breaker Activity Star Spangled Banner Fill in the Blank 1. Distribute copies or read the Star Spangled Banner as composed by Francis Scott Key which is located on page two of this handout. 2. Without looking at their copies, ask members to call out the missing words as you read the following two stanzas of the Star Spangle Banner. First Paragraph (This should be easy!) O say can you _(see), by the dawn s early light, What so proudly we hail d at the (twighlight s) last (gleaming) Whose broad stripes and bright stars, thro the _(perilous) fight, O er the ramparts we watched were so gallantly _(streaming)? And the rockets red _(glare)_, the bombs bursting in _(air), Gave (proof) thro the night that our flag was still there. O say, does that Star Spangled Banner yet (wave)_ O er the land of the _(free), and the _(home)_ of the (brave)? Second Paragraph (this one could be a little tougher!) On the (shore), dimly seen through the (mist) of the deep, When the foes _(haughty)_ host, in dread silence _(reposes). What is that which the breeze, o er the (towering) steep, As it (fitfully) blows, half (conceals), half discloses? Now it catches the (gleam) of the morning s first beam, In full (glory) reflected now shines in the stream. Tis the Star Spangled (Banner.) O long may it (wave) O er the land of the (free), and the home of the (brave!) Bonus Questions What year and month did Key compose the Star Spangled Banner? September, 1814 How old will the Star Spangled Banner be in 2011? 197 years old 3
Lesson Introduction: The flag of the United States is one of the nation's most widely recognized symbols. Within the United States, flags are frequently displayed not only on public buildings but on private residences. Throughout the world the flag has been used as a reference to the United States. Not only does it represent the United States as a country, it also is an icon for the values and ideals of the country and its people. The national flag of the United States of America (or the American flag) consists of thirteen equal horizontal stripes of red (top and bottom) alternating with white, with a blue rectangle in the canton (referred to specifically as the "union") bearing fifty small, white, fivepointed stars arranged in nine offset horizontal rows of six stars (top and bottom) alternating with rows of five stars. The fifty stars on the flag represent the 50 states and the 13 stripes represent the thirteen colonies that rebelled against the British monarchy and became the first states in the Union. Nicknames for the flag include the "Stars and Stripes" or "Old Glory," On June 14, 1777, the Marine Committee of the Second Continental Congress passed the Flag Resolution which stated: "Resolved, that the flag of the United States be thirteen stripes, alternate red and white; that the union be thirteen stars, white in a blue field, representing a new "Constellation." Flag Day is now observed on June 14 of each year. For many years, school children were taught that the first flag was constructed by Betsy Ross. Historians are now claiming that the first flag was not constructed by Ross due to the lack of evidence. It has been documented that the one of the first flags was constructed by Francis Hopkinson of New Jersey, a signer of the Declaration of Independence, who designed the 1777 flag while he was the Chairman of the Continental Navy Board's Middle Department, sometime between his appointment to that position in November 1776 and the time that the flag resolution was adopted in June 1777. This contradicts the Betsy Ross legend, which suggests that she sewed the first Stars and Stripes flag by request of the government in the Spring of 1776. Hopkinson was the only person to have made such a claim during his own lifetime, when he sent a bill to Congress for his work. He asked for a "Quarter Cask of the Public Wine" as payment initially. The payment was not made, however, because it was determined he had already received a salary as a 4
member of Congress, and he was not the only person to have contributed to the design (Government Printing Office, 1998). Prior to Flag Day, June 14, 1923, neither the federal government nor the states had official guidelines governing the display of the United States' flag. On June 14, 1923, the National Flag Code was constructed by representatives of over 68 organizations, under the auspices of the National Americanism Commission of The American Legion. The code drafted by that conference was printed by the national organization of The American Legion and given nationwide distribution. On June 22, 1942, the Code became Public Law 77-623; chapter 435. A notable change was the removal of the Bellamy salute enacted on December 22, 1942, due to its similarities to the Hitler salute. What is the National Flag Code? The United States Flag Code establishes advisory rules for display and care of the flag of the United States. It is Chapter one through of Title 4 of the United States Code. This is a U.S. federal law, but there is no penalty for failure to comply with it and it is not widely enforced. The Supreme Court has ruled that it is unconstitutional to impose a penalty as the penalty interferes with a person s right to Freedom of Speech. The Flag Code is available on the internet at various locations. One site is the Cornell Law School at http://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/html/uscode04/usc_sup_01_4_10_1.html. For those who may not be interested in reading the actual law, here are some highlights that may give you direction in displaying and caring for an American flag. General Flag Etiquette: The flag should never be dipped to any person or thing. It is flown upside down only as a distress signal. The flag should not be used as a drapery, or for covering a speaker s desk, draping a platform, or for any decoration in general. Bunting of blue, white and red stripes is available for these purposes. The blue stripe of the bunting should be on the top. 5
The flag should never be used for any advertising purpose. It should not be embroidered, printed or otherwise impressed on such articles as cushions, handkerchiefs, napkins, boxes, or anything intended to be discarded after temporary use. Advertising signs should not be attached to the staff or halyard. The flag should not be used as part of a costume or athletic uniform, except that a flag patch may be used on the uniform of military personnel, fireman, policeman and members of patriotic organizations. The flag should never have placed on it, or attached to it, any mark, insignia, letter, word, number, figure, or drawing of any kind. The flag should never be used as a receptacle for receiving, holding, carrying, or delivering anything. When the flag is lowered, no part of it should touch the ground or any other object; it should be received by waiting hands and arms. To store the flag it should be folded neatly and ceremoniously. It is a misconception that once a flag touches the ground that it should be burned or destroyed. Nothing in the Code dictates this action. If the flag does become soiled, cleaning and mending the flag is acceptable. The flag should be cleaned and mended when necessary. When a flag is so worn it is no longer fit to serve as a symbol of our country, it should be destroyed by burning in a dignified manner. The American Legion and Boy Scouts units typically hold Flag Retirement ceremonies upon request. Some Flag Retirement ceremonies are conducted on Flag Day (June 14 th ). When the flag is displayed from a staff projecting from a window, balcony, or a building, the union should be at the peak of the staff unless the flag is at half staff. When it is displayed from the same flagpole with another flag - of a state, community, society or Scout unit - the flag of the United States must always be at the top except that the church pennant may be flown above the flag during church services for Navy personnel when conducted by a Naval chaplain on a ship at sea. When the flag is displayed over a street, it should be hung vertically, with the union to the north or east. If the flag is suspended over a sidewalk, the flag's union should be farthest from the building. 6
Flying the Flag Outdoors When flown with flags of states, communities, or societies on separate flag poles which are of the same height and in a straight line, the flag of the United States is always placed in the position of honor - to its own right. The other flags may be smaller but none may be larger. No other flag ever should be placed above it. The flag of the United States is always the first flag raised and the last to be lowered. When flown with the national banner of other countries, each flag must be displayed from a separate pole of the same height. Each flag should be the same size. They should be raised and lowered simultaneously. The flag of one nation may not be displayed above that of another nation. Raising and Lowering The Flag The flag should be raised briskly and lowered slowly and ceremoniously. Ordinarily it should be displayed only between sunrise and sunset. It should be illuminated if displayed at night. The flag of the United States of America is saluted as it is hoisted and lowered. The salute is held until the flag is unsnapped from the halyard or through the last note of music, whichever is the longest. Displaying The Flag Indoors When on display, the flag is accorded the place of honor, always positioned to its own right. Place it to the right of the speaker or staging area or sanctuary. Other flags should be to the left. 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, localities, or societies are grouped for display. When one flag is used with the flag of the United States of America and the staffs are crossed, the flag of the United States is placed on its own right with its staff in front of the other flag. When displaying the flag against a wall, vertically or horizontally, the flag's union (stars) should be at the top, to the flag's own right, and to the observer's left. Parading and Saluting The Flag When carried in a procession, the flag should be to the right of the marchers. When other flags are carried, the flag of the United States may be centered in front of the others or carried to their right. When the flag passes in a procession, or when it is hoisted or lowered, all should face the flag and salute. 7
The Salute To salute, all persons come to attention. Military personnel or veterans give the appropriate formal salute. Citizens salute by placing their right hand over the heart and men with head cover should remove it and hold it to left shoulder, hand over the heart. Members of organizations in formation salute upon command of the person in charge. The Pledge of Allegiance and National Anthem The pledge of allegiance should be rendered by standing at attention, facing the flag, and saluting. When the national anthem is played or sung, citizens should stand at attention and salute at the first note and hold the salute through the last note. The salute is directed to the flag, if displayed, otherwise to the music. The Flag in Mourning To place the flag at half-staff, hoist it to the peak for an instant and lower it to a position half way between the top and bottom of the staff. The flag is to be raised again to the peak for a moment before it is lowered. On Memorial Day, the flag is displayed at half staff until noon and at full staff from noon to sunset. The flag is to be flown at half-staff in mourning for designated, principal government leaders and upon presidential or gubernatorial order. When used to cover a casket, the flag should be placed with the union at the head and over the left shoulder. It should not be lowered into the grave. Recent Amendments to the Code: The Freedom to Display the American Flag Act of 2005 prohibits real estate management organizations from restricting homeowners from displaying the Flag of the United States on their own property. The Army Specialist Joseph P. Micks Federal Flag Code Amendment Act of 2007 added a provision to fly the flag at half-staff upon the death of a member of the Armed Forces from any State, territory, or possession who died while serving on active duty. It also gave the mayor of the District of Columbia the authority to direct that the flag be flown at half-staff. Federal facilities in the area covered by the governor or mayor of the District of Columbia will also fly the 8
flag at half-staff as directed. The Duncan Hunter National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2009 permits the military salute for the flag during the national anthem by members of the Armed Forces not in uniform and by veterans. (Cornell University Law School). 9