Alabama Veterans Museum and Archives September Coffee Call

Previous Slide

Next Slide
 
Mrs. Helen Duncan wants to inform residents about flying tattered flags. Below are some maintenance facts from www.FlagKeepers.org to keep your American Flag looking it's best!

Maintenance Cycle for your American Flag!

a. The Flag can be dry cleaned.

b. The Flag can have minor repairs that can easily be done by the seamstress at the local dry cleaner.

c. Rotation. Have two flags. When the one being displayed begins to have minor problems, replace it while it is being cleaned and/or repaired.

d. Remove and Replace. Have a replacement flag on hand so that when it is in such condition that it is no longer a fitting emblem for display, it should be retired.

e. Retirement and Disposal. The flag, when it is in such condition that it is no longer a fitting emblem for display, should be destroyed in a dignified way, preferably by burning.

At this time, the maintenance cycle of the flag is over. Arrangements should already be in place for proper disposal. More often than not, these flags are turned over to a local patriotic organization that performs these ceremonies. Keep in mind that just because there are veteran, Scouting and other patriotic organizations in the local area, often times they are not equipped to perform flag retirement ceremonies. In that event, we encourage you to send your flags to us and we’ll ensure they are properly retired and destroyed.
 
Displaying the flag outdoors
  • When the flag is displayed from a staff projecting from a window, balcony, or a building, the union should be at the peak of the staff unless the flag is at half-staff. When it is displayed from the same flagpole with another flag, the flag of the United States must always be at the top except that the church pennant may be flown above the flag during church services for Navy personnel when conducted by a Naval chaplain on a ship at sea.
  • When the flag is displayed over a street, it should be hung vertically, with the union to the north or east. If the street runs north-south, the stars should face east. For streets running east-west, the stars should face north. If the flag is suspended over a sidewalk, the flag's union should be farthest from the building and the stars facing away from it.
  • When flown with flags of states, communities or societies on separate flag poles which are of the same height and in a straight line, the flag of the United States is always placed in the position of honor—to its own right. The other flags may be the same size but none may be larger.
  • No other flag should be placed above it. The flag of the United States is always the first flag raised and the last to be lowered.
  • When flown with the national banner of other countries, each flag must be displayed from a separate pole of the same height. Each flag should be the same size. They should be raised and lowered simultaneously. The flag of one nation may not be displayed above that of another nation in time of peace.[10]
  • The flag should be raised briskly and lowered slowly and ceremoniously.
  • Ordinarily it should be displayed only between sunrise and sunset, although the Flag Code permits night time display "when a patriotic effect is desired." Similarly, the flag should be displayed only when the weather is fair, except when an all weather flag is displayed. (By presidential proclamation and law, the flag is displayed continuously at certain honored locations like the United States Marine Corps Memorial in Arlington and Lexington Green.)
  • It should be illuminated if displayed at night.
  • The flag of the United States of America 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 music, whichever is the longest.

The above information was taken from www/en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_Flag_Code

Join us next month October 2nd for Coffee Call - 8:AM-9:AM!