How To Fly The Flag

US citizens throughout the nation and the world are displaying the American flag as a show of unity and support for the country and its people – especially those directly affected by the terrorist attacks of September 11. A great many flags have taken their place on poles, standards, and front porches around Newtown.

Because of the great demand, many area stores are either out or have very limited supplies of flags, The Bee is offering on its website www.newtownbee.com a printable American flag for townspeople to display at home or in the office.

For those who are uncertain about how to properly display their flags, the following information taken from Title 36 (Patriotic Societies and Observances) of The United States Code Chapter 10 (Patriotic Customs) should help:

When the flag of the United States is displayed from a staff projecting horizontally or at an angle from the windowsill, balcony, or front of a building, the union of the flag should be placed at the peak of the staff unless the flag is at half-staff. When the flag is suspended over a sidewalk from a rope extending from a house to a pole at the edge of the sidewalk, the flag should be hoisted out, union first, from the building.

When displayed either horizontally or vertically against a wall, the union should be uppermost and to the flag’s own right, that is, to the observer’s left. When displayed in a window, the flag should be displayed in the same way, with the union or blue field to the left of the observer in the street.

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.

When used on a speaker’s platform, the flag, if displayed flat, should be displayed above and behind the speaker. When displayed from a staff in a church or public auditorium, the flag of the United States of America should hold the position of superior prominence, in advance of the audience, and in the position of honor at the clergyman’s or speaker’s right as he faces the audience. Any other flag so displayed should be placed on the left of the clergyman or speaker or to the right of the audience.

The flag should not be draped over the hood, top, sides, or back of a vehicle or of a railroad train or a boat. When the flag is displayed on a motorcar, the staff shall be fixed firmly to the chassis or clamped to the right fender.