In the Patriotic or Fourth Degree of the Knights of Columbus, you can certainly be sure of one thing: we love and respect our flag.
To us, the Stars and Stripes of the United States of America represents what every American holds dear, it commemorates the tremendous sacrifices that many of our forebears have made to preserve the ideals of a “United States based on our original declaration of independence, that . . .
We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.–
Rules for Displaying the Flag of the United States
1) If the flag is displayed from a staff projecting from a building, the
union should be at the peak, unless flown at half mast. When flown
from a halyard over a sidewalk from a building pole, the flag should be
hoisted union first from the building.
2) The National Flag should be placed in the center, and higher, when
displayed with a group of state, local or organizational flags flown from
staffs.
3) If the flag is displayed flat on a speaker’s platform, it should be
placed behind and above the speaker with the union to the speaker’s
right.
4) When the flag is displayed over the middle of the street, it 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.
5) When displayed from a staff in an church or public auditorium, the
flag should hold the position of superior prominence, in advance of the
audience and in the position of honor at the priest’s or speaker’s right as
he faces the audience. Any other flag so displayed should be placed on
the left of the priest or speaker or to the right of the audience.
6) When displaying the flag against the wall with another flag, the U.S.
Flag will be on its right (the viewer’s left) with its staff crossing over the
staff of the other flag.
7) During rendition of the national anthem when the flag is displayed,
all present except those in uniform should stand at attention facing the
flag with the right hand over the heart. Men not in uniform should
remove their head-covering with their right hand and hold it at the left
shoulder, the hand being over the heart. Persons in uniform should
render the military salute at the first note of the anthem and retain
this position until the last note. When the flag is not displayed, those
present should face toward the music and act in the same manner they
would if the flag were displayed there.
8) When flags of states, cities or localities, or pennants of societies are
flown on the same halyard with the flag of the United States, the latter
should always be at the peak. When flags are flown from adjacent staffs,
the flag of the United States should be hoisted first and lowered last.
No such flag or pennant may be placed above the National Flag or to
its right.
9) When carried in procession with other flags, the National Flag
should be on the marching right. If there is a line of other flags, it
should be center of that line. The U.S. Flag should always be staffed
when carried on a float.
10) When the flag covers a casket, the union should be at the head over
the left shoulder. During burial, the flag must not touch the ground nor
be lowered into the grave. To fly at half staff, the flag should be hoisted
to the peak, then lowered. The opposite applies when lowering the flag
from half staff.
11) When the flag is passing in parade, being hoisted or lowered, all
present should face it, stand at attention and salute: uniformed persons
render the military salute; women and uncovered men place their right
hand over their hearts. Men should remove their hats, holding them
over their hearts with their right hands.
12) No flag or pennant will be flown above or to the right of the U.S. Flag
at the same level, except the church pennant. This pennant may be flow
above the flag during religious services at sea.
13) When flags of two or more nations are displayed, they should be the
same size and flown from separate staffs. Customs forbids the flag of
one nation to fly over another in peacetime.
14) Although the flag should be a distinctive feature at an unveiling of
a statue or monument, it should never be used as the covering or veil.
Marks of Respect
1) The National Flag should be flown daily from sunrise to sunset in good weather from public buildings, schools, permanent staffs in the open and near polling places on election days. The flag should not be displayed on days when the weather is inclement, except when an all weather flag is displayed. The flag may be displayed twenty-four hours a day if properly illuminated during the hours of darkness.
2) The flag should always be flown on national and state holidays and
on those occasions proclaimed by the President. On Memorial Day,
the Ensign shall be half staffed until noon.
3) The flag should be hoisted briskly and lowered ceremoniously. It
should never be dipped to any person or thing nor should it ever be
displayed with the union down except as a signal of dire distress.
4) The flag should never be allowed to touch anything beneath it, nor
should it ever be carried flat or horizontally — always aloft and free.
5) It should never be used as drapery or decoration, for carrying or
holding anything, or stored in such a manner that it will be damaged
or soiled.
6) The flag should never be used for advertising purposes in any
manner whatsoever, nor should any picture, drawing, insignia or other
decoration be placed upon or attached to the flag, its staff or halyard.
The flag should not be embroidered on personal items nor printed on
anything designed for temporary use and then discarded.
7) When the flag is so worn or soiled that it is no longer suitable for
display, it should be destroyed in a dignified manner, preferably by
burning.
