Warmer Weather, Instagram, and The American Flag: What To Know Before Posing With The Flag

As the weather gets warmer and summer approaches, girls posing with the American flag begin to fill everyone’s Instagram feed. Although I know these girls are just trying to be patriotic and cute, sometimes the pictures they post are extremely disrespectful to our flag. Like any red-blooded American we want to be as patriotic as possible, but before the weather warms up and we click post on that patriotic picture, it is of the utmost importance that the flag is being respected.

In order to make sure you are treating and holding the flag correctly, it is important to be informed about flag etiquette. We should be an example to our generation and the generations to come by honoring our country and our veterans with the proper treatment of our flag.

Our nation’s flag is not your blanket, scarf, accessory, and definitely not your dress or a prop to gain Instagram/Facebook likes. The Flag is a symbol of the United States of America. Men and women have fought for what the American flag stands for and it deserves complete and utter respect. If you and your friends are feeling patriotic and ready for a photo-op this summer, make sure you observe the rules of the Flag Code. Below are some of the rules that apply to carrying/holding the flag for pictures, or you can view the whole code here.

Things to remember about the position and manner of display:

     (a) The flag should not be draped over the hood, top, sides, or back of a vehicle or of a railroad train or a boat. When the flag is displayed on a motorcar, the staff should be fixed firmly to the chassis or clamped to the right fender.

     (b) When displayed either horizontally or vertically against a wall, the union should be uppermost and to the flag’s own right, that is, to the observer’s left. When displayed in a window, the flag should be displayed in the same way, with the union or blue field to the left of the observer in the street.

Things to remember to respect the Flag.

     (a) The flag should never be displayed with 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. Bunting of blue, white, and red, always arranged with the blue above, the white in the middle, and the red below, should be used for covering a speaker’s desk, draping in front of the platform, and for a decoration in general.

     (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 napkins 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.

     (k) The flag, when it is in such condition that it is no longer a fitting emblem for display, should be destroyed in a dignified way, preferably by burning.

Now it’s time to take your knowledge to Instagram with the most patriotic and respectful picture with the flag!