Flying the Flag on Memorial Day

Memorial Day is one of the few holidays the federal government sets aside as an official time for everyone to fly the flag. 

But flying the flag on Memorial Day is different than flying it on Independence day. This is a memorial holiday so the flag needs to be flown at half-staff – but only for part of the day.

How do you correctly raise a flag to half-staff? 

What part of Memorial Day does it fly at half-staff?  And then what do you do?

Here's the scoop according to the US Flag Code: 

 

How long does the flag fly at half-staff on Memorial Day? ...

And then what do you do?

The US Flag Code: Position and Manner of Display (section m) says the flag should be flown at half-staff on Memorial Day until noon. After noon, it is then raised to the top until it is taken down:

"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. On Memorial Day the flag should be displayed at half-staff until noon only, then raised to the top of the staff" (US Flag Code).

How to fly the flag at half-staff

When the flag flies at half-staff, it needs to be raised and lowered in the same way: Make sure to run the flag up all the way to the top of the pole before lowering it to the half-staff position. When you lower the flag for the day, you need to do the same thing: make sure you run it up to the top before you completely lower it.

Needless to say, the flag never touches the ground. It is considered a sign of disrespect as the flag is not just a national symbol, but the symbol we carry into battle, the symbol for which many have given their life.

Memorial flags at the US Capitol.

The full list of holidays the flag flies at half-staff:

• Memorial Day

• Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day

• on the day of and the day after the death of a United States senator, representative, territorial delegate, or the resident commissioner from the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico

• on the death of a state's governor (from the day of death until interment)

• on the death of a governor of a territory or possession (from the day of death until interment)

• on days the President has indicated at his/ her discretion to mark the death of other officials, foreign dignitaries, or after other tragic events.

USFlagstore follows the flag guidelines from the US Flag Code. 

USFlagstore American flags are made with U.S. labor and from U.S. materials. We can guarantee it.

For complete instructions for displaying and caring the flag, see our blog page, Flag Etiquette 101.

 

Let it fly!

 

How to make a flag bouquet – like the Martha (Washington)

Want to make a flag bouquet? 

It's easy! 

We promise.

There are two basic types of flag bouquets: the bud vase technique and the blossoming bouquet of flags we call The Martha, named after First Lady Martha Washington, that is!

The bud vase technique ...

The bud vase technique takes 3-4 of the smallest flags and simply displays them in a small vase or even a pencil holder. 

That's it. Simple and cheerful. This is great for a side table or desk. 

The Martha Washington flag bouquet ...

There are two secrets to a full flag bouquet and here they are:

1) Use a planter, not a vase because flags are full, big things and vases don't really work that well. We tried. We tried a lot. Let us save you the time. Get a planter.

2) Use a planter that is oval or rectangular. Round looks too confined unless it is large, over 14" in diameter. The flags want to spread out and wave so they really need the room. The planter we used is 16" wide and 6" high.

Choosing a filler

 We suggest filling the planter with styrofoam, or using a large, solid styrofoam center piece that you surround with dry rice or beans. The rice or beans are good for sticking the small flags into. The large, centerpiece of styrofoam is necessary for holding up the larger flags so nothing tips.

Arranging the flags

Start with an outside ring of small stick flags. The 4"x6-8" stick flags work the best for this. We used 16 of these small stick flags but figure a minimum of 12 would be necessary to really make it look full. 

All you need to do is place the smallest flags into the styrofoam base but take a little care! Once styrofoam has holes in it, it can weaken. If you use a thick bed of dry rice or beans, you will be able to stick the flags in and not worry about this. If you use styrofoam, just be careful.

The traditional crossed flag design

For the 2nd layer of flags, we used 4 8"x12" stick flags. We used them in pairs with each pair in the traditional crossed flag pattern, similar to the letter "X". This worked well in our oval planter as well as in a rectangular one.

For a finishing touch, we wanted a topper so we used 1 large 12"x18" stick flag in the center. Now you are done!

As an option ...

As an option, you can simply stand 3-4 8"x12" flags upright and still use a single, large 12"x18" stick flag in the center.

We'd love to see how your flag bouquet turned out. Just join USFlagstore on FB and post them on our wall. In the meantime ...

Let it fly!

Armed Forces Day: Freedom Is Never Free

Courage to Stand, is a tribute to U.S. Armed Forces. 

(Produced by Canadian Trooper Matthew Worth)

We chose this video as part of our observance of Armed Forces Day as it expresses not only respect for all branches of the US military, but a point of view we believe is common to all sides of our political spectrum, namely, that our success as a nation is largely due to the freedoms we enjoy as citizens of this nation. The quote below is not an endorsement of any political party or politician. It is just the narration of this video – and a really good quote.

"Humans can not reach their potential, cannot realize their dreams unless they are free. If prosperity were easy, everyone around the world would be prosperous. If freedom were easy, everybody around the world would be free. If security were easy, everybody around the world would be secure. They are not! None of this is going to be easy, but this is the United States of America. It takes an extraordinary effort, it takes extraordinary commitment, it takes extraordinary strength. Valley Forge wasn’t easy. Going to the moon wasn’t easy. Settling the West wasn’t easy. We are the American people. We have seen difficulties before and we  always overcome them. This is about rolling up our sleeves [despite our] differences as Americans and putting our head down, and getting it done."   

~ former Wisconsin Governor Tim Pawlenty

Official Armed Forces Day poster, 2012

In the beginning, there was the Army

The U.S. Army been around since ... well, since the very beginning and it was created out of the idea of a voluntary force. 

The US Army, however, didn't celebrate an official anniversary until 1924 on National Defense Test Day, not a popular holiday. 

In 1928, the anniversary was moved to May 1, May Day, otherwise known as World Communism Day. 

That didn't make much sense either.

Then in 1936, President Franklin Delano Roosevelt chose April 6, the anniversary of our entry into World War I, as a good date to represent the anniversary of the U.S. Army. This time, the date stuck.

Official US Navy flag

Then the Navy...

From 1922-1950, Navy Day was celebrated on October 27 for two main reasons: In 1775, the Continental Congress decided to re-outfit merchant ships as warships, hence the idea of a naval corps was born. The other reason is that October 27 is the birthday of a former Assistant Secretary of the Navy, Theodore Roosevelt.

Flag of the US Marine Corps

... and the Marine Corps 

Ah, the Marines. They date to the Revolution, too. And like much about our Revolution, they find their way back to Philadelphia. 

Created on November 19, 1775, the Marines received a fare-thee-well after the Revolution. Apparently, the new government thought funding the Marines too costly. But in 1798, they were back and under the jurisdiction of the Navy. Marine Corps Day traditionally was celebrated on the Marine Corps' birthday, November 10.

The flag of the US Coast Guard

The Coast Guard is born

As Secretary of the Treasury, Alexander Hamilton created the first Coast Guard in 1790 for the express purpose of collecting US tariffs.  

Coast Guard Day traditionally was celebrated on August 4.

The official Air Force flag

With the Air Force, a new age

Air Force Day was a completely different holiday. Plus, the Air Force was newer than any other military branch.

On August 1 in 1907, the Army created an aeronautical division.

On August 1 in 1947, President Truman recognized this branch of the military with an official Air Force Day, a part of the US Army. Now the Air Force is its own division of the military, the US Air Force.

US Army official flag

One Department of Defense

In 1947, the Department of Defense was created to act as a governing body for all the branches of the U.S. military. 

One holiday for all military branches

In 1950, under President Harry Truman, all the military holidays were officially consolidated into Armed Forces Day so that one day could be a day to celebrate all of our military. Within the separate branches, some of the original holidays are still celebrated.

President Truman makes Armed Forces Day official.

  The original Armed Forces Day proclamation.

Let it fly!

partial  list of sources: 
American Presidency Project (presidency.ucsb.edu)
Department of Defense (defense.gov)
NYTimes archives
Timeanddate.com
Truman Library (Trumanlibrary.org)

Louisiana: Union, Justice, Confidence

The Louisiana Brown Pelican (Audobon)

Five times the flags of France and Spain have flown over Louisiana between 1682 (France) to 1803 (France again). 

In 1682 when the French explorer Sieur de La Salle claimed land in the New World for his king, Louis XIV, the flag he most likely carried with him is known as the Bourbon Banner, a white flag with golden fleur-de-lis upon it to represent the French Bourbon monarchy.

Many variations of this flag exist, some with only three fleur-de-lis and some with many fleur-de-lis. The simpler version with three fleur-de-lis, however, was more common as it was easier to make and, therefore, easier to fly.

France's Bourbon Banner c. 1682 under Louis XIV

It is this version of the Bourbon Banner that probably was the first French flag to fly over France's new territory in the New World, Lousiana.

In 1763, as part of the Treaty of Paris, the British Union Jack claimed its share of the vast territory named Louisiana. 

Five years later in 1768, King Carlos III of Spain must deal with rebellion in the form of French colonists concerned with the fairness of Spanish rule. In 1769, King Carlos has his territory and authority in Florida solidified under Spanish Governor Alejandro O'Reilly. 

The flag of Bourbon Spain, c. 1769

Alejandro O'Reilly (Alexander O'Reilly) was born in Dublin, Ireland in 1722. Being Irish and Catholic and, given England's history with Ireland at that time, it was common for Irish Catholic gentlemen to serve in foreign armies, hence O'Reilly's efforts on behalf of Carlos III. O'Reilly was the first official colonial administer for Spain after Spain acquired territory from France. For his work on Spain's behalf, he was made a Count. 

After French colonists in Florida rebelled against Spanish rule, O'Reilly "reformed" or reorganized local government, creating the Spanish parish system and, generally, making the French colonists more comfortable with Spanish government. This parish system, by the way, remained a part of local Florida government, persisting "as the primary county-level administrative unit under territorial and state governments" (louisiana101.com) – even after Florida statehood. 

The 15 stars and 15 stripes of the Star-Spangled Banner

In 1803, the US buys the territory for $15 million from Napoleon (the Lousianna Purchase) and the 15 stars and 15 stripes of the flag that we will know as the Star-Spangled Banner becomes the first US flag to fly over Louisiana territory.

Louisiana becomes the 18th state in 1812 but secedes in 1861 and declares itself a sovereign nation. For two months is flies its own flag and then joins the Confederacy. Two Confederate flags fly over Louisiana during the Civil War, the Stars and Bars (1861-1863) and the Stainless Banner (1863-1865).

In 1902, the Brown Pelican becomes part of the Louisiana state seal although the bird has been part of Florida lore since colonists' early arrival. It is known for its parenting skills, so to speak: The Brown Pelican is a careful caretaker of its young, a trait that impressed the early Europeans. 

In the 1800s, the Brown Pelican began showing up on alternative versions of the state flag.  

Come 1912, but a dozen years into the new century, Louisiana makes the state bird, the Brown Pelican, the "star" of its new and official Louisiana state flag. The Brown Pelican, sitting atop its nest of young, flies over the state motto: Union, Justice and Confidence.

The Louisiana state flag

Happy statehood, Louisiana!

Let it fly!

partial list of sources:

EuropeanHeraldry.org 

Louisiana101.com

Louisiana.gov

Louisiana Secretary of State (sos.LA.gov)

Southeastern Louisiana University (selu.edu)

Maryland's State Flag: Historic Symbols of Unity

The state flag of Maryland is both distinctive as well as a symbolic history of the state's roots. It is based upon the heraldic designs of two English families, the Calverts and the Crosslands, the parents of the first Lord Baltimore.

The state flag of Maryland rated in the top 5 by NAVA for its design

The yellow and black bars represent the Calvert family, the first Lord Baltimore's paternal side. The red and white key pattern represents his maternal side, the Crossland family.

During colonial times and all the way up to and including the Civil War, the bumble bee colors of yellow and black generally represented Maryland. In fact, colonial descriptions of Maryland flags only describe flags using the yellow and black combination.

Though Maryland was a part of the Union, it was an eastern border state and it also had a large and active population that was sympathetic to the Confederate cause. During the Civil War, Confederate sympathizers began to show support of their cause by wearing "secessionist cockades", decorative rosettes common to the time – much like campaign buttons or bumper stickers are used today.

Lord Baltimore's coat-of-arms

Secessionist cockades, however, were made in a variety of color schemes from red and white; blue; or red, white and blue together. To make it even more complicated, Union cockades also existed in border states like Maryland and were in a similar color scheme: red, white and blue; or Union blue.

Confusion aside, in Maryland, a red and white secessionist color scheme apparently was adopted to show support of the southern cause:

"'Secession colors' appeared on everything from yarn stocking and cravats [men's neckties] to children's clothing. People displaying these red-and-white symbols of resistance to the Union and to Lincoln's policies were vigorously prosecuted by Federal authorities" (www.sos.state.md.us).

Binding the nation's wounds ...

With these badges of protest in mind, the current flag of Maryland contains another layer of symbolism: that of unity rising out of disunity.

Made from a design of four quadrants of repeating design, the flag's colors not only date to the founding of the colony, but they also reflect the divisive times of the Civil War. The colors of both sides – secessionist red and white as well as traditional Maryland yellow and black – are used in equal parts in order to create the Maryland flag.

Reproduction cockade, c.1860

(flagsoverhatteras.com)

 First flown October 11, 1880 at the 150th parade marking Baltimore's founding (msa.md.gov), the flag was also flown October 25, 1888 at the Gettysburg Battlefield in a ceremony dedicating memorial monuments to the Maryland regiments from the Army of the Potomac (msa.md.gov). It also was flown by the Maryland National Guard's Fifth Regiment in 1889. This design became the official state flag of Maryland in 1904.

Maryland is one of the original 13 colonies. It is the 7th state to join the new nation. It adopted its first state constitution on November 8, 1776. Its statehood date is April 28, 1788, the date it signed the federal Constitution.

Finding ancestors who were slave

Maryland makes it easy to do an online search of the slave records of Prince George's County from 1808 -1869. To search the Freedom Records archive, follow this link. 

Flag of Maryland's 4th Regiment of US Colored Troops

Civil War regimental flag of the Maryland 4th US Colored Troops

Originally 6.5' high and 6'wide, the flag of Maryland's 4th Regiment of US Colored Troops is the only surviving regimental flag from the 25 regiments of African American soldiers. It is hand-painted and hand-stitched onto silk and was carried into battle (www.mdhs.org).

Let it fly!

sources:

AmericanHerladry.org

Heritage.nf.ca

Maryland Dept. of State

Maryland Historical Society (mdhs.org)

Maryland State Archives (msa.md.gov)

How to care for a flag

 How to care for a flag really depends on two factors: the flag material being correct for the weather conditions in which you fly your flag; and that your flag is properly stored if you won't be flying it for any length of time.

Flag fabrics

In terms of choosing the best flag material for your flag, be aware of the kinds of environmental stresses your flag is going to be in contact with. Some materials do better in wet weather, harsh sunlight, sea spray, urban environments (where there are lots of air-borne pollutants), or high winds.

So choose your flag fabric carefully! Make sure the fabric is a quality fabric that really is designed to "weather" the kinds of conditions in which your flag is going to be flown.

What stresses out a flag

Because flags are constantly moving and under constant stress, it is important to make sure your flag can fly freely without hitting or constantly banging up against any obstructions. Flag placement as well as the kind of flagpole you use can help with this: Some flagpoles fully rotate while others attach to buildings at certain angles. Some poles come with adjustable heights while other poles are fixed.

While a flag is flying, it is under a variety of environmental stress. Not just sun, wind, or rain, but air-borne pollutants and contaminants also can wear a flag down. You can preserve the life of your flag simply by occasionally washing it, by hand, in a gentle detergent, and in cool water. It is that simple.

Storing and keeping your flag clean

If you are going to store your flag for any length of time, consider giving it a gentle wash beforehand to remove any dirt or pollutants that can eat away at your fabric. Consider it like washing the underside of your car after a long winter of driving on roads sprayed with salt and other chemicals to melt ice and snow.

Finally, if you are planning to store your flag for any length of time, make sure it is completely dry and properly folded. Tradition and respect dictate that you do not store your flag on the floor. Other than that, you can simply keep your cleaned and folded flag in a box or any other storage area. If you prefer, there also are flag display cases specifically designed for displaying a folded flag indoors.

Not only is taking care of a flag pretty easy, but a little care will go a long way to ensure the durability and bright colors of your flag.

Let if fly!

The only woman to win the Congressional Medal of Honor

Dr. Mary Walker with her medal

At the age of 29, Mary Walker began four years of service as a Union Civil War surgeon. She also was a POW, and a possible Union spy.  

Dr. Walker is the only woman to have won the Congressional Medal of Honor.

It was awarded to her by President Johnson in 1865. Years later, in 1917, it was revoked. Dr. Walker believed it was revoked because of her political activity advocating that women should have the right to vote. The medal, however, was one of 910 revoked medals due to changes in the medal's requirements (cmohs.org). In 1977, the medal was reinstated.

Dr. Walker in her top hat.

Despite the official status of the medal during her lifetime, Dr. Walker wore it every day until her death, Feb. 21, 1919.

When Walker graduated from medical school at the age of 23, there were only a few women doctors in this country. Initially, when she offered her services to the army, she was not wanted. She volunteered anyway, going to the front lines where she knew her training would be welcome in spite of her gender.

In 1864, she was assigned to the 52nd Ohio Volunteers at Chattanooga, TN. Assigned to the unit as a civilian surgeon, her job included caring for military and civilian patients alike. 

She was captured by Confederate soldiers one night and imprisoned in Richmond at the Castle Thunder POW camp. She was not allowed to use her services on either Union or Confederate soldiers. She also became sick at the camp. Eventually, she was exchanged for a Confederate officer.

The Walker US postage stamp

Another interesting fact about Dr. Walker is that she was legally allowed to dress as a man – by an Act of Congress:

"By special authorization from the federal Congress Dr. Walker adopted male attire during the Civil War and for the half century
since she had continued to wear it in civil life – the only woman in the country who ever had her rights in this respect prescribed by the national legislature. She wore a black frock coat, trousers, and a high silk hat and carried a cane." from Dr. Walker's obituary in The Daily Rome Sentinel

Let it fly!