By Neena Strichart
With my dear husband Steve in the hospital recuperating after having spinal surgery on Monday, I’m a little too distracted to write a meaningful column this week. Instead, I will rely on Lisa Fox, one of my sister DARs (Daughters of the American Revolution), to share with you the proper etiquette of displaying our country’s flag— just in time for the 4th of July. I wish you all a spectacular and safe holiday!
Long May She Wave
Stars and stripes are symbols of American freedom not to be mistreated or held in disregard. As we near the national holiday of the Fourth of July, the Susan B. Anthony chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution in Long Beach shares with you pointers for properly displaying our flag and how to treat it with utmost respect.
According to Susan B. Anthony Chapter Regent Carol Bachand, “The standards of respect for flag etiquette mostly center around how the flag is not to be used.” She recommends visiting the Susan B. Anthony Chapter website for more complete information.
If you plan to display a flag this coming holiday, note that, traditionally, flags are flown from sunrise to sunset. If your flag is displayed at night it should be illuminated. Always lower a flag ceremoniously and ensure no part of the flag ever touches the ground or any other object other than waiting hands and arms. When on display, the flag is always accorded the place of honor, positioned to its own right. Always place it to the right of the speaker or staging area, and when in a procession, the flag is to be held to the right of marchers. When displaying the flag against a wall, vertically or horizontally, the flag’s union (stars) should be at the top.
The Pledge of Allegiance should always be rendered by standing at attention, facing the flag, and saluting with a fixed gaze. One’s left hand should hang, relaxed, at one’s side, nothing held in the left hand.
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.
For more complete information on the Flag Code please follow the “flag etiquette” link on the local Susan B. Anthony Chapter of the DAR website at www.californiadar.org/chapters/susanbanthony.
