The History of our Flag

The first flag for all of the 13 colonieswas the Grand Union or Continental Colors.

Red representshardiness andcourage.White representspurity and innocence.Blue representsvigilance and justice.

The number of stripes is limited to 13 by law.

Each starrepresentsa state.

The Americanflag is the mostrecognizable symbol offreedom,justice, andliberty everywhere.

All persons shouldface the flag,stand at attention,and salute (placehand over heart)when the flag is passing in a parade.

When flags of twoor more nationsare displayed,they are to beflown from separatestaffs at the sameheight.

When the flag ison a staff projecting froma building,the union of theflag is placed atthe peak ofthe staff.

When the flag isdisplayed on aspeaker’s platform,it should occupy aposition of honor at the speaker’sright.

When flags aredisplayed oncrossed staffs,the U.S. flagshould be on theleft as you viewthem and its staffshould be ontop.

When a numberof flags are groupedand displayed fromstaffs, the U.S.flag should bein the center and ata higher point thanthe rest.

No flag may flyabove or to theright of theU.s. flag

When the flag isdisplayed on a wall behind a speaker’splatform, it shouldbe above and behind the speaker.

The flag shouldbe raisedbriskly to thepeak andlowered slowly.

The flag shouldnever touch theground orfloor.

The U.S. flag displayed withthe union downis a sign ofdistress.

The flag should never have placed upon it orattached to itany mark, sign, letter, picture,etc.

Never use theflag to hold,carry, ordeliver anything.

An old flagshould bedestroyed byburning inprivate respectfully.

The VFW will properly dispose of flags for you.