Q&A for How to Hang an American Flag Vertically

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Viewing from the street, should the the U.S. Flag be on the right and the U.S. Marine flag on the left of the garage?

Community Answer

No, the U.S. flag should be on the left and the U.S. Marine flag should be on the right.

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Question

How do you accommodate flying a vertical flag when protocol calls for half staff?

Community Answer

Look for the vertical flag pole that they have now. This will allow the flag to hang.

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Question

Why is it important to note compass directions when hanging a flag over a street? What is the significance of the North/East directions?

Community Answer

Observers will approach the flag from different directions, from one with the union on the left, from the reverse with the union on the right. Hence, the standard North/East directional instruction.

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Question

My flag is mounted on my front door facing the street. Shall I illuminate it at night? Shall I take it down at sunset?

CageyCat

Top Answerer

Congress approved the U.S. Flag Code in 1942, which established the official etiquette for the handling and display of the U.S. Flag. A flag can stay flying outside 24 hours a day but only if it is illuminated. If you cannot keep a flood light pointed toward your door, then take the flag down at sunset.

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Question

How do I stop the flag from wrapping around the pole?

CageyCat

Top Answerer

Check with local merchants to see if any sell a US Flag with a small metal weight tucked into the hem of the lowermost corner (diagonal from the union corner). Or ask if a dry cleaners has a seamstress who can sew one into the hem of that corner. The weight should keep the flag flying smartly, without wrapping itself.

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Question

I am hanging both a U.S. Flag and a state flag on a wall. As you are standing looking at them, the U.S.. flag is on the left and state flag on the right, is that correct?

CageyCat

Top Answerer

The US Flag should always be to the observer's far left, with the union field to the far left. A US State's flag should be slightly less high than the US Flag. From a window, the observer on the street should see the union field to their left. If flown outside a building, such as on a horizontal bar, the field of stars should be furthest out away from the building.

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Question

When hanging the American Flag in your backyard so the star field is on the top and the stripes are hanging down, where should the field be? Left or right as you look at it?

CageyCat

Top Answerer

The field of stars should always be highest and on the observer's left, e.g. above their left shoulder. You have to remember the symbolism that goes with the US Flag.

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Question

How should the flag be tattooed on a left shoulder hanging vertically?

CageyCat

Top Answerer

Same as in real life situations, that is, with the field of stars to the left of the person(s) who will observe it. Further, nothing else should be higher than the US Flag. You should consult the recruiters at the US Army, US Navy, or US Marine Corps, or ask a Reserve Unit if using the US Flag in a tattoo is acceptable.

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On which side of the U.S. flag does a state flag hang when they are both vertical?

CageyCat

Top Answerer

The US Flag is always placed at the highest position and to the far left of any other display. The field of stars must be above the left shoulder of the intended observers. All other displays should be lower than the corner of the field of stars as the highest point of the US Flag.

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Question

Where should the union be when hanging the US flag vertically from ceiling to the right of stage?

CageyCat

Top Answerer

When hanging the US flag from a ceiling (at any position) or against a wall, the field of stars should always be at the left of an observer. In this case, your intended audience would be people out in front of the stage area (not behind the curtain), so it would be to their left side as observers.

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Question

How do you hang state flags with a vertical Amercian flag against a wall?

CageyCat

Top Answerer

The US Flag would always take first position to the far left side, with its stars to the left, and placed higher than any other flag. All State Flags or organizational flags would be positioned lower than the US Flag.

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Question

If hanging an American flag vertically, over a street from a fire department ladder truck, is it acceptable to add weight to the bottom or should it be allowed to wave freely?

Community Answer

It should swing freely because it represents freedom of our country, but make sure it is on the ladder secure so it doesn't fly away.

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