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Flag Circular

				WAR DEPARTMENT
			THE ADJUDANT GENERAL's OFFICE
				WASHINGTON, D.C.

While it is within the province of the War Department to prescribe rules and regulations governing the use of the 
flag for observance within the Army, yet it is beyond its province to prescribe any such rules or regulations for the 
guidance of civilians or to undertake to decide questions concerning this subject that are presented by civilians.

On Flag Day, June 14, 1923, representatives of over 68 patriotic organizations met in Washington for a conference
under the auspices of the National Americanism Commission of the American Legion, to draft an authentic code of 
flag etiquette. The rules adopted by this conference represent the opinion of the patriotic organizations 
represented at this conference and other patriotic organizations which have since adopted this code. The flag 
circular previously published by the War Department under date of February 15, 1923, having been incorporated 
in this code practically in toto, the conference flag code is published for the information of those concerned.

DESCRIPTION OF THE FLAG
The flag of the United States has 13 horizontal stripes—7 red and 6 white—the red and white stripes alternating, 
and a union which consists of white stars of five points on a blue field placed in the upper quarter next the staff and
extending to the lower edge of the fourth red stripe from the top. The number of stars is the same as the number of
States in the Union. The canton or union now contains 48 stars arranged in six horizontal and eight vertical rows, 
each star with one point upward. On the admission of a State into the Union a star will be added to the union of the 
flag, and such addition will take effect on the 4th day of July next succeeding such admission.

In the Army Regulations four kinds of national flags are described, viz, flags which are flown at military posts or on
ships and used for display generally ; small flags or ensigns which are used on small boats ; colors which are 
carried by unmounted regiments, and standards which are carried by mounted regiments and are, therefore, 
smaller in size than colors.

National flags, with the exception of the colors and standards carried by troops, will be of the following proportions:
	Hoist (width) of flag, 1.
	Fly (length) of flag, 1.9.
	Hoist (width) of union, 7/13.
	Fly (length) of union, 0.76.
	Width of each stripe, 1/13.
For a number of years there has been prescribed In Army Regulations a knotted fringe of yellow silk on the national
standards of mounted regiments and on the national colors of unmounted regiments. The War Department, 
however, knows of no law which either requires or prohibits the placing of a fringe on the flag of the United States. 
No act of Congress or Executive order has been found bearing on the question. In flag manufacture a fringe is not 
considered to be a part of the flag, and it is without heraldic significance. In the common use of the word it is a 
fringe and not a border. Ancient custom sanctions the use of fringe on the regimental colors and standards, but 
there seems to be no good reason or precedent for its use on other flags.

FEDERAL LAWS
There Is no Federal law now in force pertaining to the manner of displaying, hanging, or saluting the United States
flag, or prescribing any ceremonies that should be observed in connection therewith. In fact, there are but four 
Federal laws on the statute books that have any bearing upon this subject; first, the act of Congress approved 
February 20, 1905 (33 Stat. L., p. 725), providing that a trade-mark cannot be registered which consists of or 
comprises, inter alia, "the flag, coat of arms, or other insignia of the United States, or any simulation thereof"; the 
second, a joint resolution of Congress approved May 8, 1914 (38 Stat. L., p. 771), authorizing the display of the
flag on Mother's Day; the third, the act of Congress approved February 8, 1917 (39 Stat. L., p. 900), providing 
certain penalties for the desecration, mutilation, or improper use of the flag, within the District of Columbia; and the
fourth, the act of Congress approved May 16, 1918 (40 Stat. L., p. 554), providing, when the United States is at 
war, for the dismissal from the service of any employee or ofl3cial of the United States Government who criticizes in
an abusive or violent manner the flag of the United States. Several States of the Union have enacted laws which 
have more or less bearing upon the general subject, and it seems probable that many counties and municipalities
have also passed ordinances concerning this matter to govern action within their own jurisdiction.

Warning against desecration of the American flag by aliens was issued by the Department of Justice, which sent the
following notice to Federal attorneys and marshals:

		"Any alien enemy tearing down, mutilating, abusing, or desecrating
		the United States flag in any way will be regarded as a
		danger to the public peace or safety within the meaning of
		regulation 12 of the proclamation of the President issued April
		6, 1917, and will be subject to summary arrest and punishment"

CONFERENCE CODE
There are certain fundamental rules of heraldry which, if understood generally, would indicate the proper method of
displaying the flag of the United States of America. The matter becomes a very simple one if it is kept in mind that 
the flag represents the living country and is itself considered as a living thing. The union of the flag is the honor 
point; the right arm is the sword arm and therefore the point of danger and hence the place of honor. 

	1. The flag should be displayed only from sunrise to sunset, or between such hours as may be designated
by proper authority. It should be hoisted briskly but should be lowered slowly and ceremoniously. The flag should be
displayed on all National and State holidays and on historic and special occasions. (However, being the emblem of 
our country, it ought to fly from every flagpole every day throughout the year, weather permitting.)
	2. When carried in a procession with another flag or flags, the flag of the United States of America should
be either on the marching right, i. e., the flag's own right, or, when there is a line of other flags, the flag of the United
States of America may be in front of the center of that line.
	3. When displayed with another flag against a wall from crossed staffs, the flag of the United States of 
America should be on the right, the flag's own right, and its staff should be in front of the staff of the other flag.
	4. When a number of flags of States or cities or pennants of societies are grouped and displayed from 
staffs with the flag of the United States of America, the latter should be at the center or at the highest point of the 
group. 
	5. When flags of States or cities or pennants of societies are flown on the same halyard with the flag of 
the United States of America, the latter should always be at the peak. When flown from adjacent staffs, the flag of 
the United States of America should be hoisted first and lowered last. No such flag or pennant flown in the former
position should be placed above, or in the latter position to the right, of the flag of the United States of America, i.e.,
to the observer's left.
	6. When flags of two or more nations are displayed, they should be flown from separate staffs of the same
height and the flags should be of approximately equal size. International usage forbids the display of the flag of one
nation above that of another nation in time of peace.
	7. When the flag is displayed from a staff projecting horizontally or at an angle from the window sill, 
balcony, or front of building, the union of the flag should go clear to the peak of the staff unless the flag is at 
halfstaff. (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 from the building toward the pole, union flrst.)
	8. When the flag is displayed in a manner other than by being flown from a staff, it should be displayed 
flat, whether indoors or out. When displayed either horizontally or vertically against a wall, the union should be 
uppermost and to the flag's own right, i.e., to the observer's left. When displayed in a window, it should be displayed
in the same way ; that is, with the union or blue field to the left of the observer in the street When festoons, rosettes,
or drapings are desired, bunting of blue, white, and red should be used, but never the flag.
	9. When displayed over the middle of the street, the flag 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.
	10. When used on a speaker's platform, the flag, if displayed flat, should be displayed above and behind
the speaker. If flown from a staff, it should be in the position of honor, at the speaker's right. It should never be used
to cover the speaker's desk or to drape over the front of the platform.
	11. When used in connection with the unveiling of a statue or monument, the flag should form a distinctive
feature during the ceremony, but the flag itself should never be used as the covering for the statue.
	12. When flown at halfstaff, the flag should be hoisted to the peak for an instant and then lowered to the
halfstaff position; but, before lowering the flag for the day, it should be raised again to the peak. By halfstaff is 
meant hauling down the flag to one-half the distance between the top and the bottom of the staff. If local conditions
require, divergence from this position is permissible. On Memorial Day, May 30, the flag is displayed at halfstaff 
from sunrise until noon and at fullstaff from noon until sunset; for the Nation lives and the flag is the symbol of the
living nation.
	13. Flags flown from fixed staffs are placed at halfstaff to indicate mourning. When the flag is displayed on
a small staff, as when carried in a parade, mourning is indicated by attaching two streamers of black crepe to the 
spearhead, allowing the streamers to fall naturally. Crepe is used on the flagstaff only by order of the President.
	14. When used to cover a casket, the flag should be placed so that the union is at the head and over the
left shoulder. The flag should not be lowered into the grave or allowed to touch the ground. The casket should be
carried foot first. 
	15. When the flag Is displayed in the body of the church, it should be from a staff placed in the position of
honor at the congregation's right as they face the clergyman. The service flag, the State flag, or other flag should 
be at the left of the congregation. If in the chancel or on the platform, the flag of the United States of America should
be placed on the clergyman's right as he faces the congregation and the other flags at his left.
	16. When the flag is in such a condition that it is no longer a fitting emblem for display, it should not be 
cast aside or used in any way that might be viewed as disrespectful to the national colors, but should be destroyed 
as a whole privately, preferably by burning or by some other method in harmony with the reverence and respect we
owe to the emblem representing our country.

CAUTIONS
	1. Do not permit disrespect to be shown to the flag of the United States of America.
	2. Do not dip the flag of the United States of America to any person or any thing. The regimental color.
	State flag, organization, or institutional flag will render this honor.
	3. Do not display the flag with the union down except as a signal of distress.
	4. Do not place any other flag or pennant above or, if on the same level, to the right of the flag of the
	United States of America.
	5. Do not let the flag touch the ground or the floor or trail in the water.
	6. Do not place any object or emblem of any kind on or above the flag of the United States of America.
	7. Do not use the flag as drapery in any form whatsoever. Use bunting of blue, white, and red.
	8. Do not fasten the flag in such manner as will permit it to be easily torn.
	9. Do not drape the flag over the hood, top, sides, or back of a vehicle or of a railroad train or boat. When
	the flag is displayed on a motor car, the staff should be affixed firmly to the chassis or clamped to the 
	radiator cap.
	10. Do not display the flag on a float In a parade except from a staff.
	11. Do not use the flag as a covering for a ceiling.
	12. Do not carry the flag flat or horizontally, but always aloft and free.
	13. Do not use the flag as a portion of a costume or of an athletic uniform. Do not embroider it upon 
	cushions or handkerchiefs nor print it on paper napkins or boxes.
	14. Do not put lettering of any kind upon the flag.
	15. Do not use the flag in any form of advertising nor fasten an advertising sign to a pole from which the
	flag is flown.
	16. Do not display, use, or store the flag in such a manner as will permit it to be easily soiled or damaged.

PROPER USE OF BUNTING
Bunting of blue, white, and red should be used for covering a speaker's desk, draping over the front of a platform, 
and for decoration in general. Bunting should be arranged with the blue above, the white in the middle, and the red
below.

SALUTE TO THE FLAG
During the ceremony of hoisting or lowering the flag or when the flag is passing in a parade or in a review, all 
persons present should face the flag, stand at attention, and salute. Those present in uniform should render the
right-hand salute. When not in uniform, men should remove the headdress with the right hand and hold it at the left
shoulder, the hand being over the heart. Women should salute by placing the right hand over the heart. The salute
to the flag in the moving column is rendered at the moment the flag passes.

SALUTE TO NATIONAL ANTHEM
When the National Anthem is played and the flag is not displayed, all present should stand and face toward the 
music. Those in uniform should salute at the first note of the Anthem, retaining this position until the last note. All 
others should stand at attention, men removing the headdress. When the flag is displayed, the regular "Salute to 
the Flag" should be given.

The "Star-Spangled Banner" is recommended for universal recognition as the National Anthem.

PLEDGE TO THE FLAG
In pledging allegiance to the flag of the United States of America, the approved practice in schools, which is suitable
also for civilian adults, is as follows:

Standing with the right hand over the heart, all repeat together the following pledge :

		"I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of
		America and to the Republic for which it stands, one Nation
		indivisible, with liberty and justice for all."

At the words "to the flag," the right hand is extended, palm upward, toward the flag and this position is held until the
end, when the hand, after the words "Justice for all," drops to the side.

However, civilian adults will always show full respect to the flag, when the pledge is being given, by merely standing
at attention, men removing the headdress. Persons in uniform should render the right-hand salute.

THE SHIELD
The shield of the United States of America has 13 vertical stripes—7 white and 6 red—with a blue chief without 
stars.
[A. G. 332.13 (2-28-25),]
ROBERT C. DAVIS,
Major General,
The Adjutant General.

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