If you have a son in Cub Scouts or Boy Scouts, you know that the American Flag is a big deal. I never fully realized how big a deal it is before getting an education through different Cub Scout field trips and activities. My kids have learned how to display the flag, carry the flag, fold the flag, burn an old flag, hoist the flag on a staff, salute the flag, pledge it and so on. Those are the activities I have witnessed them learning myself – no telling how much other stuff they have learned. I was there, for example, when they went through the ceremony of burning an old flag. They take the American Flag very seriously in scouting.

There is also a written set of rules and procedures around the flag, know as the Flag Code:

Flag Code

It talks about all things having to do with the flag, and explains many things that we take for granted. For example, why do you see an American Flag flying at every school? Because it is part of the flag code: “The flag should be displayed during school days in or near every schoolhouse.”

There is also stuff in the Flag Code you may have never thought about. For example, you can use the American Flag to send a distress signal:

The flag should never be displayed with the union down, except as a signal of dire distress in instances of extreme danger to life or property.

As you read the Flag Code, you come to understand that there are many things we commonly see happening to the American Flag that really are inappropriate. For example:

(a) The flag should never be displayed with the union down, except as a signal of dire distress in instances of extreme danger to life or property.

(b) The flag should never touch anything beneath it, such as the ground, the floor, water, or merchandise.

(c) The flag should never be carried flat or horizontally, but always aloft and free.

(d) The flag should never be used as wearing apparel, bedding, or drapery. It should never be festooned, drawn back, nor up, in folds, but always allowed to fall free.

(e) The flag should never be fastened, displayed, used, or stored in such a manner as to permit it to be easily torn, soiled, or damaged in any way.

(f) The flag should never be used as a covering for a ceiling.

(g) The flag should never have placed upon it, nor on any part of it, nor attached to it any mark, insignia, letter, word, figure, design, picture, or drawing of any nature.

(h) The flag should never be used as a receptacle for receiving, holding, carrying, or delivering anything.

(i) The flag should never be used for advertising purposes in any manner whatsoever. It should not be embroidered on such articles as cushions or handkerchiefs and the like, printed or otherwise impressed on paper napkin or boxes or anything that is designed for temporary use and discard. Advertising signs should not be fastened to a staff or halyard from which the flag is flown.

(j) No part of the flag should ever be used as a costume or athletic uniform. However, a flag patch may be affixed to the uniform of military personnel, firemen, policemen, and members of patriotic organizations. The flag represents a living country and is itself considered a living thing. Therefore, the lapel flag pin being a replica, should be worn on the left lapel near the heart.

So you read the Flag Code and start looking around. Is this appropriate?

Flag cookies

Probably not. Is this appropriate?

Flag Fanfare Quilt Pattern

Probably not. Several examples of inappropriate flag behavior can be seen in this video, starting around 1:25:

And so on. It would probably be useful for all Americans to re-read the flag code on occasion.

See also:
- Did Betsy Ross really make the first American flag?
- Betsy Ross House

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