When and how to fly our American Flag as per the VFW guidelines:
| January 1 | New Year's Day |
| 3rd Monday in January | Martin Luther King, Jr. Day |
| February 12 | Lincoln's Birthday |
| 3rd Monday in February | President's Day |
| April | Easter Sunday |
| 2nd Sunday in May | Mother's Day |
| May 15 * | Peace Officer's Memorial Day |
| 3rd Saturday in May | Armed Forces Day |
| Last Monday in May * | Memorial Day (* until noon) |
| June 14 | Flag Day |
| July 4th | Independence Day |
| July 27th * | Armistice Day |
| 1st Monday in September | Labor Day |
| September 11th * | Patriot Day 9-11 |
| September 17th | Citizenship/Constitution Day |
| September 19th | POW/MIA Recognition Day |
| 2nd Monday in October | Columbus Day |
| October 27th | Navy Day |
| November 11th | Veteran's Day |
| November | Thanksgiving Day |
| December 7th | Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day |
| December 25th | Christmas Day |
* Fly flag at Half-Staff or Half-Mast.
The National Flag Conference held on Flag Day in 1923 adopted the following guidelines that all Americans who fly our country's symbol should know:
* When the American Flag
is displayed on the same pole with the flag of a state, community
or society, the American Flag shall always be on top.
* When the American Flag is
displayed on different poles of the same height, our American
Flag is always placed to the flag's own right and the observer's
left.
* When the American Flag is
flown with flags of other countries, each one must have their
own pole of the same height. Each flag must be the same size and
raised or lowered at the same height simultaneously.
* When the American Flag is
flown from a horizontal staff, the stars should be placed at the
peak of the staff.
* When the American Flag is
displayed horizontally or vertically against a wall, the stars
should be in the uppermost corner of the flag's own right and
the observer's left.
* When the American Flag is
flown at half-mast, you should first hoist our flag to the peak
for an second and then lowered to the halfway position. When you
lower the American Flag that is flying at half-mast or half-staff,
first hoist our flag back up to the peak position, then lower
Old Glory.
* When the American Flag is
lowered at dusk, never allow our flag to touch the ground, but
receive our flag with open hands and arms.
* When the American Flag is
flown at night, a light or lights should always be illuminating
our flag.
* When the American Flag is
deemed no longer fit to serve as a symbol of our country you should
bring the flag to your local VFW Post. So if you have a worn or
damaged flag and would like to dispose of it properly, your local
Veterans of Foreign Wars post will be happy to help out.
Please feel free to print this page
out and
pass copies along to friends and family. Thank you.