In regard to the flags that we possess.
The order of precedence comes from the USCG Ceremonial Team Operations
and is as follows:
National
DHS
POW
USCG
AUX
CA
NEV
UT
Dist
WW2
Flag Etiquette
Flag Precedence
1. The flag of the United States.
2. Foreign national flags. (Normally, these are displayed in alphabetical order using the English
alphabet.)
3. Flag of the President of the United States of America.
4. State and territorial flags. Normally, state flags are displayed in order of admittance of the State to
the Union. However, they may also be displayed in alphabetical order using the English alphabet.
Territorial flags are displayed after the State flags either in the order they were recognized by the
United States or alphabetically.
5. Military organizational flags of the Services in order of precedence
1. Cadets, United States Military Academy
2. Midshipmen, United States Naval Academy
3. Cadets, United States Air Force Academy
4. Cadets, United States Coast Guard Academy
5. Midshipmen, United States Merchant Marine Academy
6. United States Army
7. United States Marine Corps
8. United States Navy
9. United States Air Force
10. United States Coast Guard
11. Army National Guard of the United States
12. Army Reserve
13. Marine Corps Reserve
14. Naval Reserve
15. Air National Guard of the United States
16. Air Force Reserve
17. Coast Guard Reserve
18. Other training organizations of the Army, Marine Corps, Navy, Air Force, and Coast
Guard, in that order, respectively.
6. Military organizational flags within a Service by echelon. The flag for the regimental corps will have
precedence immediately before the regimental proponent’s command flag. The regimental corps
flag will never have precedence above a MACOM flag.
7. Individual flags in order of rank. For the purpose of order of precedence, the term “individual flags”
includes the Department of the Army Senior Executive Service flag.
8. Other
When authorized, the following may be flown beneath the flag of the United States:*
The Prisoner of War/Missing in Action (POW/MIA) flag
. The Army Savings Program (Minuteman Flag)
. The Retiree flag
. Commander-in-Chief's Installation Excellence Award flag
*Army Regulation 840-10 2-2.c, reads, "The flag of the United States is the only flag that may be flown from
a flagpole over a CONUS Army installation unless an exception is granted by TIOH, U.S. Army. However,
the Minuteman flag (AR608-15), the Prisoner of War/Missing in Action (POW/MIA) flag, the Retiree flag, or
the Commander-in-Chief's Installation Excellence Award flag, when authorized, may be flown beneath the
flag of the United States without referral to TIOH for exception. The POW/MIA flag will be flown beneath the
flag of the United States on Armed Forces Day, the third Saturday in May; Memorial Day, the last Monday in
May; Flag Day, June 14; Independence Day, July 4; National POW/MIA Day; Veterans Day, November 11
and on occasions when the installation is hosting POW/MIA activities. The Retiree flag may be flown on
Veterans Day or occasions when the installation is sponsoring activities for retirees such as open house or
retiree day. Not more than one flag will be displayed below the flag of the United States and, if displayed, will
be approximately 6 inches below the flag of the United States."
In civilian usage, the POW/MIA flag flies beneath the US flag
THE FLAG OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
PROPER ETIQUETTE
STANDARDS of RESPECT
The Flag Code, which formalizes and unifies the traditional ways in which we give respect to the flag, also
contains specific instructions on how the flag is not to be used. They are:
The flag should never be dipped to any person or thing. It is flown upside down only as a distress
signal.
.
The flag should not be used as a drapery, or for covering a speaker’s desk, draping a platform, or for
any decoration in general. Bunting of blue, white and red stripes is available for these purposes. The
blue stripe of the bunting should be on the top.
.
The flag should never be used for any advertising purpose. It should not be embroidered, printed or
otherwise impressed on such articles as cushions, handkerchiefs, napkins, boxes, or anything
intended to be discarded after temporary use. Advertising signs should not be attached to the staff or
halyard
.
The flag should not be used as part of a costume or athletic uniform, except that a flag patch may be
used on the uniform of military personnel, fireman, policeman and members of patriotic
organizations.
.
The flag should never have placed on it, or attached to it, any mark, insignia, letter, word, number,
figure, or drawing of any kind.
.
The flag should never be used as a receptacle for receiving, holding, carrying, or delivering anything.
.
When the flag is lowered, no part of it should touch the ground or any other object; it should be
received by waiting hands and arms. To store the flag it should be folded neatly and ceremoniously.
.
The flag should be cleaned and mended when necessary.
.
When a flag is so worn it is no longer fit to serve as a symbol of our country, it should be destroyed
by burning in a dignified manner.
DISPLAYING THE FLAG OUTDOORS
When the flag is displayed from a staff projecting from a window, balcony, or a building, the union should be
at the peak of the staff unless the flag is at half staff.
When it is displayed from the same flagpole with another flag - of a state, community, society or Scout unit -
the flag of the United States must always be at the top except that the church pennant may be flown above the
flag during church services for Navy personnel when conducted by a Naval chaplain on a ship at sea.
When the flag is displayed over a street, it should be hung vertically, with the union to the north or east. If the
flag is suspended over a sidewalk, the flag's union should be farthest from the building.
When flown with flags of states, communities, or societies on separate flag poles which are of the same height
and in a straight line, the flag of the United States is always placed in the position of honor - to its own right.
The other flags may be smaller but none may be larger. No other flag ever should be placed above it.
The flag of the United States is always the first flag raised and the last to be lowered.
When flown with the national banner of other countries, each flag must be displayed from a separate pole of
the same height. Each flag should be the same size. They should be raised and lowered simultaneously. The
flag of one nation may not be displayed above that of another nation.
RAISING AND LOWERING THE FLAG
The flag should be raised briskly and lowered slowly and ceremoniously. Ordinarily it should be displayed
only between sunrise and sunset. It should be illuminated if displayed at night. The flag of the United States
of America is saluted as it is hoisted and lowered. The salute is held until the flag is unsnapped from the
halyard or through the last note of music, whichever is the longest.
DISPLAYING THE FLAG INDOORS
When on display, the flag is accorded the place of honor, always positioned to its own right. Place it to the
right of the speaker or staging area or sanctuary. Other flags should be to the left.
The flag of the United States of America should be at the center and at the highest point of the group when a
number of flags of states, localities, or societies are grouped for display.
When one flag is used with the flag of the United States of America and the staffs are crossed, the flag of the
United States is placed on its own right with its staff in front of the other flag.
When displaying the flag against a wall, vertically or horizontally, the flag's union (stars) should be at the top,
to the flag's own right, and to the observer's left.
PARADING AND SALUTING THE FLAG
When carried in a procession, the flag should be to the right of the marchers. When other flags are carried,
the flag of the United States may be centered in front of the others or carried to their right. When the flag
passes in a procession, or when it is hoisted or lowered, all should face the flag and salute.
THE SALUTE
To salute, all persons come to attention. Those in uniform give the appropriate formal salute. Citizens not in
uniform salute by placing their right hand over the heart and men with head cover should remove it and hold
it to left shoulder, hand over the heart. Members of organizations in formation salute upon command of the
person in charge.
THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE AND NATIONAL ANTHEM
The pledge of allegiance should be rendered by standing at attention, facing the flag, and saluting.
When the national anthem is played or sung, citizens should stand at attention and salute at the first note and
hold the salute through the last note. The salute is directed to the flag, if displayed, otherwise to the music.
THE FLAG IN MOURNING
To place the flag at half staff, hoist it to the peak for an instant and lower it to a position half way between the
top and bottom of the staff. The flag is to be raised again to the peak for a moment before it is lowered. On
Memorial Day the flag is displayed at half staff until noon and at full staff from noon to sunset.
The flag is to be flown at half staff in mourning for designated, principal government leaders and upon
presidential or gubernatorial order.
When used to cover a casket, the flag should be placed with the union at the head and over the left shoulder.
It should not be lowered into the grave.
1. The flag of the United States.
2. Foreign national flags. (Normally, these are displayed in alphabetical order using the English
alphabet.)
3. Flag of the President of the United States of America.
4. State and territorial flags. Normally, state flags are displayed in order of admittance of the State to
the Union. However, they may also be displayed in alphabetical order using the English alphabet.
Territorial flags are displayed after the State flags either in the order they were recognized by the
United States or alphabetically.
5. Military organizational flags of the Services in order of precedence
1. Cadets, United States Military Academy
2. Midshipmen, United States Naval Academy
3. Cadets, United States Air Force Academy
4. Cadets, United States Coast Guard Academy
5. Midshipmen, United States Merchant Marine Academy
6. United States Army
7. United States Marine Corps
8. United States Navy
9. United States Air Force
10. United States Coast Guard
11. Army National Guard of the United States
12. Army Reserve
13. Marine Corps Reserve
14. Naval Reserve
15. Air National Guard of the United States
16. Air Force Reserve
17. Coast Guard Reserve
18. Other training organizations of the Army, Marine Corps, Navy, Air Force, and Coast
Guard, in that order, respectively.
6. Military organizational flags within a Service by echelon. The flag for the regimental corps will have
precedence immediately before the regimental proponent’s command flag. The regimental corps
flag will never have precedence above a MACOM flag.
7. Individual flags in order of rank. For the purpose of order of precedence, the term “individual flags”
includes the Department of the Army Senior Executive Service flag.
8. Other
When authorized, the following may be flown beneath the flag of the United States:*
The Prisoner of War/Missing in Action (POW/MIA) flag
. The Army Savings Program (Minuteman Flag)
. The Retiree flag
. Commander-in-Chief's Installation Excellence Award flag
*Army Regulation 840-10 2-2.c, reads, "The flag of the United States is the only flag that may be flown from
a flagpole over a CONUS Army installation unless an exception is granted by TIOH, U.S. Army. However,
the Minuteman flag (AR608-15), the Prisoner of War/Missing in Action (POW/MIA) flag, the Retiree flag, or
the Commander-in-Chief's Installation Excellence Award flag, when authorized, may be flown beneath the
flag of the United States without referral to TIOH for exception. The POW/MIA flag will be flown beneath the
flag of the United States on Armed Forces Day, the third Saturday in May; Memorial Day, the last Monday in
May; Flag Day, June 14; Independence Day, July 4; National POW/MIA Day; Veterans Day, November 11
and on occasions when the installation is hosting POW/MIA activities. The Retiree flag may be flown on
Veterans Day or occasions when the installation is sponsoring activities for retirees such as open house or
retiree day. Not more than one flag will be displayed below the flag of the United States and, if displayed, will
be approximately 6 inches below the flag of the United States."
In civilian usage, the POW/MIA flag flies beneath the US flag
THE FLAG OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
PROPER ETIQUETTE
STANDARDS of RESPECT
The Flag Code, which formalizes and unifies the traditional ways in which we give respect to the flag, also
contains specific instructions on how the flag is not to be used. They are:
The flag should never be dipped to any person or thing. It is flown upside down only as a distress
signal.
.
The flag should not be used as a drapery, or for covering a speaker’s desk, draping a platform, or for
any decoration in general. Bunting of blue, white and red stripes is available for these purposes. The
blue stripe of the bunting should be on the top.
.
The flag should never be used for any advertising purpose. It should not be embroidered, printed or
otherwise impressed on such articles as cushions, handkerchiefs, napkins, boxes, or anything
intended to be discarded after temporary use. Advertising signs should not be attached to the staff or
halyard
.
The flag should not be used as part of a costume or athletic uniform, except that a flag patch may be
used on the uniform of military personnel, fireman, policeman and members of patriotic
organizations.
.
The flag should never have placed on it, or attached to it, any mark, insignia, letter, word, number,
figure, or drawing of any kind.
.
The flag should never be used as a receptacle for receiving, holding, carrying, or delivering anything.
.
When the flag is lowered, no part of it should touch the ground or any other object; it should be
received by waiting hands and arms. To store the flag it should be folded neatly and ceremoniously.
.
The flag should be cleaned and mended when necessary.
.
When a flag is so worn it is no longer fit to serve as a symbol of our country, it should be destroyed
by burning in a dignified manner.
DISPLAYING THE FLAG OUTDOORS
When the flag is displayed from a staff projecting from a window, balcony, or a building, the union should be
at the peak of the staff unless the flag is at half staff.
When it is displayed from the same flagpole with another flag - of a state, community, society or Scout unit -
the flag of the United States must always be at the top except that the church pennant may be flown above the
flag during church services for Navy personnel when conducted by a Naval chaplain on a ship at sea.
When the flag is displayed over a street, it should be hung vertically, with the union to the north or east. If the
flag is suspended over a sidewalk, the flag's union should be farthest from the building.
When flown with flags of states, communities, or societies on separate flag poles which are of the same height
and in a straight line, the flag of the United States is always placed in the position of honor - to its own right.
The other flags may be smaller but none may be larger. No other flag ever should be placed above it.
The flag of the United States is always the first flag raised and the last to be lowered.
When flown with the national banner of other countries, each flag must be displayed from a separate pole of
the same height. Each flag should be the same size. They should be raised and lowered simultaneously. The
flag of one nation may not be displayed above that of another nation.
RAISING AND LOWERING THE FLAG
The flag should be raised briskly and lowered slowly and ceremoniously. Ordinarily it should be displayed
only between sunrise and sunset. It should be illuminated if displayed at night. The flag of the United States
of America is saluted as it is hoisted and lowered. The salute is held until the flag is unsnapped from the
halyard or through the last note of music, whichever is the longest.
DISPLAYING THE FLAG INDOORS
When on display, the flag is accorded the place of honor, always positioned to its own right. Place it to the
right of the speaker or staging area or sanctuary. Other flags should be to the left.
The flag of the United States of America should be at the center and at the highest point of the group when a
number of flags of states, localities, or societies are grouped for display.
When one flag is used with the flag of the United States of America and the staffs are crossed, the flag of the
United States is placed on its own right with its staff in front of the other flag.
When displaying the flag against a wall, vertically or horizontally, the flag's union (stars) should be at the top,
to the flag's own right, and to the observer's left.
PARADING AND SALUTING THE FLAG
When carried in a procession, the flag should be to the right of the marchers. When other flags are carried,
the flag of the United States may be centered in front of the others or carried to their right. When the flag
passes in a procession, or when it is hoisted or lowered, all should face the flag and salute.
THE SALUTE
To salute, all persons come to attention. Those in uniform give the appropriate formal salute. Citizens not in
uniform salute by placing their right hand over the heart and men with head cover should remove it and hold
it to left shoulder, hand over the heart. Members of organizations in formation salute upon command of the
person in charge.
THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE AND NATIONAL ANTHEM
The pledge of allegiance should be rendered by standing at attention, facing the flag, and saluting.
When the national anthem is played or sung, citizens should stand at attention and salute at the first note and
hold the salute through the last note. The salute is directed to the flag, if displayed, otherwise to the music.
THE FLAG IN MOURNING
To place the flag at half staff, hoist it to the peak for an instant and lower it to a position half way between the
top and bottom of the staff. The flag is to be raised again to the peak for a moment before it is lowered. On
Memorial Day the flag is displayed at half staff until noon and at full staff from noon to sunset.
The flag is to be flown at half staff in mourning for designated, principal government leaders and upon
presidential or gubernatorial order.
When used to cover a casket, the flag should be placed with the union at the head and over the left shoulder.
It should not be lowered into the grave.