Section 403. Rules; manner of display  


Latest version.
  • The following rules and customs shall
      be deemed the proper manner to display the flag:
        1.  The  flag  shall  be  displayed  only  from  sunrise  to sunset on
      buildings and on stationary flagstaffs in the open.  However,  the  flag
      may  be  displayed at night upon special occasions when it is desired to
      produce a patriotic effect.
        2. The flag shall be displayed daily, weather permitting, on  or  near
      the  main  administration building of every public institution, whenever
      such institution  is  open  to  the  public.  The  flag  shall  also  be
      displayed,  weather  permitting, on the following days in each year: the
      first day of January, known as New  Year's  day;  the  third  Monday  of
      January,  known  as  Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. day; the twelfth day of
      February, known as Lincoln's birthday; the  third  Monday  in  February,
      known  as  Washington's  birthday;  the  last  Monday  in  May, known as
      Memorial day; the second Sunday of June, known as Flag day;  the  fourth
      day  of  July, known as Independence day; the first Monday in September,
      known as Labor day; the third Friday in  September,  known  as  National
      POW/MIA  Recognition day, except if such date of commemoration cannot be
      observed due to a religious holiday,  such  observances  shall  then  be
      conducted  on  the second Friday in September; September eleventh, known
      as September 11th Remembrance Day; the second Monday in  October,  known
      as  Columbus  day;  the eleventh day of November, known as Veterans day;
      the fourth Thursday in November, known as Thanksgiving day; the  seventh
      day  of December, known as Pearl Harbor day; and the twenty-fifth day of
      December, known as Christmas day, and if any of such  days  except  Flag
      day  is  Sunday, the next day thereafter; each general election day, and
      each day appointed by the President of  the  United  States  or  by  the
      Governor  of  this  state  as  a  day  of  general  thanksgiving  or for
      displaying the flag.
        3. The flag shall not  be  displayed  on  days  when  the  weather  is
      inclement.
        4.  The  flag  shall  be  displayed  in or near every polling place on
      election days.
        5. The flag shall be displayed daily during school days in, on or near
      every schoolhouse.
        6. The flag shall be hoisted briskly and lowered ceremoniously.
        7. No person shall display the flag of the United Nations or any other
      national or international  flag  equal,  above,  or  in  a  position  of
      superior  prominence or honor to, or in place of, the flag of the United
      States provided, that nothing in this section shall  make  unlawful  the
      continuance  of  the practice heretofore followed of displaying the flag
      of the United Nations in a position of superior prominence or honor, and
      other national flags in positions of equal  prominence  or  honor,  with
      that  of the flag of the United States at the headquarters of the United
      Nations.
        8. When a number of flags of  states  or  localities  or  pennants  of
      societies  are grouped and displayed from staffs, the flag of the United
      States of America shall be at the center and at the highest point of the
      group.
        9. When flags  of  states,  cities,  or  localities,  or  pennants  of
      societies  are  flown  on  the  same halyard with the flag of the United
      States, the latter shall always be at the peak. When the flags are flown
      from adjacent staffs, the flag of the United  States  shall  be  hoisted
      first  and  lowered  last. No such flag or pennant shall be placed above
      the flag of the United States or to the right of the flag of the  United
      States.
        10.  When  the  flag  of  the  United States is displayed from a staff
      projecting horizontally or at an angle from the window sill, balcony, or
    
      front of a building, the union of the flag shall be placed at  the  peak
      of  the  staff  unless  the  flag  is  at  half-staff.  When the flag is
      suspended over a sidewalk from a rope extending from a house to  a  pole
      at the edge of the sidewalk, the flag shall be hoisted out, union first,
      from the building.
        11.  When  the  flag is displayed otherwise than by being flown from a
      staff, it shall be  displayed  flat,  whether  indoors  or  out,  or  so
      suspended that its folds fall as free as though the flag were staffed.
        12. When the flag is displayed over the middle of the street, it shall
      be  suspended vertically with the union to the north in an east and west
      street or to the east in a north and south street.
        13. The flag, when flown at half-staff, shall be first hoisted to  the
      peak  for  an  instant  and then lowered to the half-staff position. The
      flag shall be again raised to the peak before it is lowered for the day.
      By "half-staff" is meant lowering the  flag  to  one-half  the  distance
      between  the  top  and bottom of the staff. Crepe streamers shall not be
      affixed to spear heads or flagstaffs except by order of the President of
      the United States or the Governor of this state.
        14. No disrespect shall be shown to the flag of the United  States  of
      America, nor shall the flag be dipped to any person or thing.
        15.  The  flag  shall not be displayed with the union down except as a
      signal of dire and immediate distress.
        16. The flag shall always be carried  aloft  and  free,  not  flat  or
      horizontally.
        17. The flag shall not be fastened, displayed, used, or stored in such
      a  manner as will permit it to be easily torn, soiled, or damaged in any
      way.
        18. No one shall place upon the flag, or on any part of it, or  attach
      to  it  any  mark,  insignia,  letter, word, figure, design, picture, or
      drawing of any nature.
        19. The flag, when it is in such condition that  it  is  no  longer  a
      fitting  emblem  for  display  shall  be destroyed in a dignified way by
      burning.
        20. The flag shall not be used as a ceiling covering or drapery of any
      sort whatsoever, nor festooned, drawn back, nor up, in folds.  The  flag
      shall  always  be  allowed  to fall free without touching any surface or
      object beneath or below it.
        21. The flag shall be flown at full staff at all times except it shall
      be flown at half-staff on the eleventh of September, known as  September
      11th Remembrance Day, the seventh day of December, known as Pearl Harbor
      Day,  and  to  commemorate the death of a personage of national or state
      standing or of a local serviceman, official or public  servant  who,  in
      the opinion of the local agency concerned, contributed to the community.
      It  may  also  be flown at half-staff during special periods of mourning
      designated by the President of the United States or the Governor of this
      state.