Flag
Etiquette
This information is courtesy of the
National Flag Foundation. For more than thirty years,
National Flag Foundation has been America's leading
non-profit patriotic organization devoted to promoting
respect for our nation's most important symbol: The
Flag of the United States of America. The Foundation's
mission is to teach the youth of America to have pride
for the flag and to become more responsible citizens.
You may visit their site at americanflags.org
Saluting the Flag
To salute the flag,
all persons come to attention. Those in uniform give
the appropriate formal salute as specified by the
uniform service. Citizens not in uniform salute by
placing their right hand over their hearts. Men wearing
a head cover (a hat or cap) are to remove it. Women
may wear a head covering.
In parades or reviews, at the moment the flag passes,
each individual should stand at attention facing the
flag and salute.
The Flag of the United States 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 the national anthem; whichever is the
longest.
When the national anthem is played or sung, citizens
should stand at attention and salute, by placing their
right hand over the heart, 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.
If in uniform, the person should salute in the formal
manner. It is proper to salute wherever the national
anthem is played, for instance, on a college campus,
in a public park, in a church, at a ball game, sports
event, etc.
To salute a flag in a moving column, it is proper
to start the salute as the flag enters your position
and end when it is past.
When the Pledge of Allegiance is recited, citizens
should stand at attention and salute by placing their
right hand over the heart with the first word and
hold the salute through the last line of the Pledge.
The salute is directed to the flag by facing the flag
during the Pledge.
