The Colorado statesman., 1917-07-28
War Department Provides Rules
for Army, but Not for Guild
ance of Civilians.
WOULD RESTRICT IT'S Use
Adjutant General Urges That Emblem
Be Suspended From Poles and
Not Used for General
Decorative Purposes.

The adjutant general of the war de-
partment, in statement with refer
ence to the many inquiries which the
department has received concerning
the proper method of displaying,
hanging and saluting the American
flag, declares that there is no federal
law now in force pertaining to this
subject and that while the war de-
partment prescribes rules and regula-
tions on the subject for use in the
army, 1t has no authority to prescribe
any rules for the guidance of civil
lans.
Concerning the rules observed in the
army, the adjutant general says:
"It is the practice in the army, each
day in the year, to hoist the flag brisk
ly by sunrise, irrespective of the con-
ditiOn of the weather, and to lower 1t
slowly and tremendously at sunset, in
dlcating the commencement and
cessation of the activities of the day,
rial day (May 30) from sunrise until
noon, and at full staff from noon until
sunset, and also on other days spe-
cially designated for that purpose by
the proper authority, the flag always
being hOlsted to the top of the staff
before being lowered to the half-mast
position.
Use Should Be Restricted.
considerable discussion has arisen
throughout the country concerning the
proper manner of hanging and display
ing the flag for decorative purposes.
AS already stated, there is no federal
law governing the subject, and individ-
ual opinion differs as to the procedure
that should or should not be followed.
1t has been suggested that as far as
possible the hanging of the flag should
be restricted to suspending 1t from a
flagpole, in the regular way, and not
to displaying it otherwise; that for
purposes of decoration only the ma
tional colors should be arranged in
the form of bunting and not used in
the form of the flag; that If it is never
theless the desire to use the flag for
decorative purposes IL should always
be hung fiat whether on the inside or
the outside of buildings, with the union
be a general uniformity in the position
of the union of each flag displayed;
that the flag should rarely be displayed
in a horizontal position or laid fat;
that under no circumstances should 1t
be hung where it can easily be contain
mated or soiled, or be draped over
chairs or benches to be used for seat
ing purposes, and that no object or en-
blem of any kind should be placed
above or upon it. This department
sees no objection to flying the flag at
night on civilian property provided
1t Is not so flown for advertising pur-
poses.
"It Is becoming the practice through
out the country, among civilians, to dis
play the national flag on all patriotic
occasions, especially on the following
days: Lincoln's Birthday, Washing
toms Birthday, Mothers day.. Memo
rial day, Flag day, Independence day,
February -, February %, second Sun
day in May, May 80, June A. July 4.
In certain localities other special days
are observed in the same manner.
SIT seems to be appropriate that
where several flags or emblems are
displayed on pole, or otherwise, the
United States flag should always be
hoisted first and hung or displayed at
the top; that in any parade the United
States flag should always have the
place of honor, and that the flag should
never be hung or displayed with the
union down except as signal of dis
tress at sea.
How Soldiers Salute Flag.
Existing regulations governing the
army provide that when officers and
enlisted men pass the national flag,
not encased, they will render honors
rs follows: If in civilian dress and COW
cred, they will uncover, holding the
headdresS opposite the left shoulder
with the right hand; if uncovered,
they will salute with the right hand.
A flag unfurled and hung in room in
which officers or enlisted men of the
army are present will be saluted by
them the first time they may have oc-
casion to pass it, but not thereafter.
The hand salute is as follows: Raise
the right hand smartly till the tip of
the foretinger touches the lower part
of the headdress above the right eye,
thumb and fingers extended and Joined,
palm to left, forearm inclined to about
45 degrees, hand and wrist straight;
at the same time look toward the per-
son saluted; drop the arm smartly to
the side.
"Old or worn-out flags should not be