Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1918-07-04
DISPLAYING THE FLAG


Many questions have arisen as to
the proper method to hang a flag
when displayed without the use of a
flagstaff, as from building or on the
wall. of a room. The Army and Navy
Journal recently published the follow
ing information on the subject gain
ed from an army officer who has made
special study of the question:
The position of the union-or starry
feld-in a flag flying from staff or
mast is of course well established
both by regulations and customs; but
as to the position of the flag when
not attached to a staff, there is end
less diversity of opinion. There are
no official regulations as to the matter
and there is no accepted opinion even
as to the prevailing custom. Army
officers themselves do not agree, some
holding that it is the best army GUS
tom to keep the union at the left as
ones faces the flag whether it is hung
from the front of building either
horizontally or vertically. This, how
ever, does not agree with what ap-
pears to be the growing custom to
hang the flag with relation to the
points of the compass, the union be-
ing hung to the north or east as the
case may be. Not until the first ad-
ministration of President Mckinley
was any concerted action taken to
form epenaby custom some sort of reg
ulations which might finally be ac-
cepted by the public without their be-
ing backed by law. This work was un-
dertaken by a committee on decor
at1onS, the members of which "sug-
gested" to those who hung flags from
their windows or across walls, that
the union-the starry field-should be
either to the north or the east, as the
street ran east and west. or north and
south The only reason that can be
found for the adoption of this custom
IS that in all sciences these directions
are regarded as positive in
stance, in mapmaking the northern
and eastern portions of a city are
always outlined in heavier marking.
The flag should never be draped.
though it has been and still is com
monty used for this purpose. The
main object is that when draped
against wall or stand the fabric
usually becomes stained, warped or
manglged by breezes and by splinters
from the wood. Wherever possible,
the flag should be flown from a staff
or mast SO that it may be as free as
| the people it represents. So far as can
be learned no European country per
mits its national emblem to be draped
as decoration. This may be however
because no other flag lends itself so
nicely to this purpose as does that OF
the United States. Our flag should
not be used as a cover over a table
box or desk, nor placed where any.
4 thing can be placed upon it. Wher
the national flag and other flags are
flown together, the former should al
ways>be on the right When the aae
Eis flown at half-staff as a sign al
mourning, it should be hoisted 4,
full STAFF at the conclusion of the
funeral. When the flag Cor several O.
them) is used in unwilling monu
ment or statue, it should never be per
mitted to fall to the ground, bu
should be carried aloft to wave free
at once forming distinctive featur
to the occasion and honoring the em
blem.
When clusters and draping of tn
colors are desired as decoration US
red, white and blue bunting-but no
the flag If it is so used, howeve,
care should be taken that it is no
placed below person sitting on
stand, platform or rostrum, for ex
ample, when the President deIivere
his war address to Congress April :
the flag hung vertically beneath tn
clock of the House of Representative
back of the President with the fiel
in the upper left corner. If bunting
used, army customs requires that til
red shall be at the top, then the whit
and finally the blue.-Kansas Cit
4 Star