Flag Day 2011

Today – June 14 – is Flag Day in the U.S.

It’s sandwiched in between Memorial Day and the Fourth of July and is not an official federal holiday. This date goes largely without fanfare, except in Pennsylvania, which became the first (and only) U.S. state to celebrate Flag Day starting in 1937. It’s also a holiday in American Samoa.

While not an official holiday, Flag Day commemorates the adoption of the flag of the U.S., which happened on that day by resolution of the 2nd Continental Congress in 1777.

Here are the some basics on displaying  the American flag:

• The flag is normally flown from sunrise to sunset.
• Raise the flag briskly in the a.m.; at sunset, lower it slowly. .
• Do not fly the the flag at night without a light on it.
• The flag should not be flown in the rain or inclement weather.
• After a tragedy or death, the flag is flown at  “half staff” on land ,and “half mast” at sea – for 30 days.
• When flown vertically on a pole, the stars and blue field , or “union,” is at the top and at the end of the pole (away from your house).
• The American flag is always flown at the top of the pole; state flag and other flags fly below it.
• The union is always on top. When displayed in print, the stars and blue field are always on the left.
• Never let your flag touch the ground, never...period.
• Fold the flag when storing.
• When the flag is old and has seen  better days, burn or bury it. Do not throw it in the trash.