Memorial Day 2017: American, Virginia Flag Etiquette

Virginians pausing Monday on Memorial Day to remember men and women in all branches of the military who died serving their country will fly their flags at half-staff in mournful tribute and appreciation for their sacrifices. But the ritual is not as simple as raising the flag halfway up the pole and locking it in place.

Here are essentials to know about proper flag etiquette on Memorial Day, as well as how to properly show respect as the colors are presented in ceremonies being held around the state this weekend.

The American flag should be displayed at half-staff until noon only on Memorial Day, and then should be raised to the top of the staff. When raising the flag to half-staff, it “should be hoisted to the peak for an instant and then lowered to the half-staff position,” according to U.S. Code Title 4 Chapter 1, Section 7. “The flag should again be raised to the peak before it is lowered for the day.”

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When you attend a memorial service, you need to know whether to salute Old Glory. During ceremonies when the flag is hoisted or raised, spectators who aren’t in military uniform should face the flag, stand at attention and place their right hands over their hearts. Others should:

• If you’re in uniform, give a proper military salute;
• A man who is not in uniform, but is wearing a hat should take it off with his right hand and hold it at his left shoulder with his palm resting on his heart;
• If you’re not a U.S. citizen, stand at attention.

When the flag advances in a moving column, it is appropriate to salute it as it passes.

If you fly the red-white-and-blue at home, make sure flag is in pristine condition and isn’t tattered and torn, and that its red and white bars and the union (the blue field of stars) are bright and vibrant. If the flag is no longer suitable for display, dispose of it properly, preferably in a ceremonial burning. American Legion posts and other veteran groups often have flag-disposal ceremonies.

Virginia State Flag Rules

When flying a flag at half-staff, it should first be raised to its peak and then lowered to half-staff. Before lowering it for the day, it should first be raised to its peak and then lowered.

The State of Virginia flag shall be flown at half-staff on Memorial Day. On this day the state flag is displayed at half-staff until noon only, then raised to the top of the staff.

There are no prescribed guidelines either in the Code of Virginia or in practice for disposal of the Virginia flag. Guidelines for disposal of the United States flag be followed, if possible. With any method, disposal should be carried out in a respectful manner.

Regulations for the U.S. flag are generally applied to the state flag. The positions of honor in a display of flags are:

• U.S. flag in the position of highest honor (the observer's extreme left or the highest point in a grouping of flags)
• The flag or flags of other nations ranked in alphabetical order
• The Virginia flag

— Includes reporting by Patch Editor Beth Dalbey; Source: U.S. Flag Code and Georgia.gov
Photo by Steve Moskowitz via Flickr Commons