Our American Flag Pledge of Allegiance ~ Flag Protocol ~ Dates to Display Pledge of Allegiance I pledge allegiance to the Flag of the United States of America and to the Republic for which it stands, one Nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. The photo above is of the flag that flew over Ft. McHenry, and inspired the poem by Francis Scott Key that eventually became America's National Anthem. The flag is now housed in the Smithsonian Institution in Washington, DC. How Does One Properly Fly the American Flag? The flag is always hoisted briskly and lowered ceremoniously. The flag is never allowed to touch the ground or the floor. When hung over a sidewalk on a rope extending from a building to a pole, the union stars are always away from the building. When vertically hung over the center of the street, the flag always has the union stars to the north in an east/west street, and to the east in a north/south street. The flag of the United States of America should be at the center and at the highest point of the group when a number of flags of States or localities or pennants of societies are grouped and displayed from staffs. The flag should never be festooned, drawn back, nor up in folds, but always allowed to fall free. The flag should be displayed at half-staff until noon on Memorial Day, then raised to the top of the staff. Never fly the flag upside down except as a signal of distress in instances of extreme danger to life or property. The flag is never flown in inclement weather except when using an all-weather flag. The flag can be flown every day from sunrise to sunset and at night if illuminated properly. This information conforms to the current Federal flag code. Displaying the American Flag The American flag should be displayed every day, and especially on these dates: New Year's Day, January 1st Inauguration Day, January 20th Lincoln's Birthday, February 12th Washington's Birthday, third Monday in February Easter Sunday, variable Mother's Day, second Sunday in May Armed Forces Day, third Saturday in May Peace Officers Memorial Day at half-staff, May 15th unless it conflicts with Armed Forces Day, then May 16th Memorial Day at half-staff until Noon - last Monday in May Flag Day, June 14th Independence Day, July 4th National Korean War Veterans Armistice Day at half-staff, July 27th Labor Day, first Monday in September Citizenship Day, September 17th Columbus Day, second Monday in October Veterans Day, November 11th Thanksgiving Day, fourth Thursday in November National Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day at half-staff, December 7th Christmas Day, December 25th On the date of admission of States to the Union On State holidays Other days as may be proclaimed by the President of the United States

Home ~ Chapter ~ Membership ~ History ~ Patriots Contact Our Regent ~ Virginia DAR ~ National Society DAR