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

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.