The Raymer enterprise., 1923-08-02
C1e
AMERICAN
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RULES FOR FLAG OBSERVANCE
National confsfsnee codifss Reoula-
tions for Display o. Respect
tn Colore
Copy for This Department Supplied BY
the American Legion News Ssrvtoe.)

may pay the flag Of the nation full re-
spect, without fear Of violation Of
some phase Of flag etiquette. due to
the outcome of national conference
called for the purpose Of codlfyins
rules for flag observance.
Noting the dlssimilltude Of practices
toward the Gag. and the inability to
make military observance coincide
with that for clvilianS the American
Legion set out to settle all such Ques-
tions and succeeded In the purpose By
calling together representatives Of
nearly seventy organizations Of vart.
ous character for the promulgation Of
certain rules for future nag usage
The conference was held at Conti.
mental hall In Washington. Gathered
there were representatives Of the
army and navy, government agenciea
veterans organizations, patrietic 70
cietles, associations for welfare and or.
ganized movements for national devsl.
opment. These delegates represented
100000 Americans. The conference
was opened b an address ~ Prsd.
dent Harding.
Garland W. Powell. director Of the
Americanism commission Of the Le-
gion, presided and named a committee
which formulated definite code, later
to be adopted by the conference.
In addition to settling on theecode
for flag usage, plans for education In
proper flag observance were formed
and program Of contemplated legis.
lation outlined, which would fix by
statute certain rules for display of the
national emblem. A point which will
be stressed along this line will be the
setting aside of June IA as a day of
appropriate ceremony and respect to
the flag in every state. Another sug.
gested measure calls for the flying Of
the flag from every main administra-
ton building and at every polling place
In the nation. Schools would fly the
flag during school hours. II recon-
mendation Of the committee is fol.
lowed. while general laws relating to
punitive measures for misuse of the
flag also are urged.
The code suggested by the commit
tee contains many suggestions for
usaa Of the emblem, with certain
"don'ts" as violations.
The flag should be displayed from
sunrise to sunset, only between such
hours as designated by proper author.
ity on national and state holidays, or
on historic or special occasions. The
flag should always be hoisted briskly
and lowered slowly and ceremonious-
ly. When carried in procession with
another flag the place Of the flag Of
the United States Is on the right, that
Is, the flags own right or when there
is line Of other flags, the United
States flag should be In front Of the
center Of the line.
II displayed with another flag
against wall from crossed STATS the
United States flag should be on the
right and Its staff In front Of the other
flag. When flags are grouped or dis
played from STATS the United States
flag should be in the center or at the
highest point of the group. The United
States flag should fly from the peak of
halyard on which flags of states,
cities or societies are flown. II such
flass are hOisted the United States
flag should always be raised first. No
flag or pennant should be placed above
or to the right of the emblem. In fly
Ing flags of two or more nations the
flags should be flown from separate
stafrs Of the same height and the flags
of equal size.
A common misuse Of the flag takes
place when the staff projects horizon
tally or at an angle from window sills,
balcony or front of buildings. The
union OF the flag should go clear to
the head Of the staff unless at half
staff. II the emblem is displayed other
than from staff 1t should be hung
fiat. II displayed either horizontally
or vertically against n wall, the union
should be uppermost and to the flags
right, that Is. to the observers left. II
hung from the middle OF n street, as
between buildings, the union should be
to the north In an east and west
street or to the east in a north and
south street.
When the flag Is used on speakers
platform 1t should be displayed above
and behind the speaker. 1t should
never be used to cover the speaker'sj
desk or to drape over the front Of the
platform. II used In unveiling monu.
ment the flag should not be allowed to
fall to the ground, but should be borne
aloft to wave out. II 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 nor allowed
to touch the ground. The casket should
be carried feet first.
II the condition Of the flag Ia such
that 1t Ii no longer fit for display II
should be destroyed as a whole by
burning or similar method.
The emblem should never be used
ms drapery. bunting being preferred
for this purpose II should never be
used as ceiling. part Of a costume or