Tips For June 14 Flag Day During National Mourning Period

President Barack Obama declared a national period of mourning for the victims of the June 12 Orlando mass shooting, also calling for the U.S. flag to be flown at half-staff until sunset June 16 at the White House and at all public buildings, military posts, naval stations, vessels and U.S. facilities overseas.  

Today -- Tuesday, June 14 --  is Flag Day -- a date commemorating the adoption of the U.S. Flag on June 14, 1777, and the entire week through Saturday is designated Flag Week.

For those flying flags, here is information on half-staff etiquette.

The flag, when flown at half-staff, should be first hoisted to the peak for an instant and then lowered to the half-staff position. The flag should be again raised to the peak before it is lowered for the day, according to the Al Cavalari, owner of The Flag Guys.

Flags that are affixed to staffs, such as most front porch types or indoor floor-mounted ones, are not expected to be half-staffed, he said. 

"Not all flags are intended to be half-staffed. When I was at The White House as a tourist during President Ford's funeral, flags all over D.C. were half-staffed. However, none of the flags mounted on the light poles on The White House grounds were half staffed," Cavalari wrote. "The Flag Code is silent on what to do with flags that cannot be half-staffed. However by tradition, and indeed incorporated into U.S. Army flag regulations, is the practice of attaching a black mourning streamer or ribbon to the top of the flag."

Cavalari's company, The Flag Guys, answers flag etiquette questions through email at flagguys@aol.com, or see his web site or the U.S. Flag Code for more information.

The VFW also offers the following tips about the proper care and display of the U.S. flag.

• The federal flag code says the universal custom is to display the U.S. flag from sunrise to sunset on buildings and stationary flagstaffs in the open, but when a patriotic effect is desired the flag may be displayed 24-hours a day if properly illuminated during the hours of darkness.

• The U.S. flag should not be displayed when the weather is inclement, except when an all-weather flag is displayed.

• For most homeowners with one flagpole, the U.S. flag is at the peak, above any other flag.

• The U.S. flag should not be torn, ripped or in any way wrapped around the pole or snagged in the lines. It should fly free and be able to move around the pole unobstructed.

• A U.S. flag should never be used as clothing or for decoration.

• Red, white and blue bunting is the proper method for decoration on porches, windows, etc.

• On Memorial Day, the flag is flown at half-staff until noon and then raised.

• Do not let the flag touch the ground.

• Do not carry the flag flat, or carry things in it.

• Do not store the flag where it can get dirty.

• Do not use the flag as a cover.

• Do not fasten the flag or tie it back. Always allow it to fall free.

• Do not draw on, or otherwise mark the flag.

• When a U.S. flag is no longer able to be flown properly, disposal by burning is required.

Also see: Flag Etiquette, When to Salute: 5 Things to Know

-- CHRIS DEHNEL (Patch Staff) contributed to this post/Image via WikimediaCommons