Chapter XIII
Reading edition
HOW TO BEHAVE TOWARD THE FLAG
Except the cross there is nothing that the American should hold more sacred than the flag of the United States, because of its record in peace and in war, and because it stands for the rights and the freedom of one hundred million citizens.
"Sign of a nation great and strong, To ward her people from foreign wrong."
There are definite rules in regard to the use of the flag. The following are the most necessary to know:—
The flag should be raised at sunrise and lowered at sunset. It should not be left out at night unless under fire. It should not be allowed to touch the ground. If possible, a pole rather than a staff should be used.
In raising a flag to half-mast or half-staff, it should be run to the top of the pole, and then lowered the width of the flag. Before being retired, it should be run to the top again. On Memorial Day the flag should be at half-mast until noon, and at the peak from noon until sunset.
When the flag goes by, rise if you are sitting; halt if you are walking, and take off your hat.
In decorating, never drape the flag; always hang it flat. The Union should be at the observer's left, whether the stripes are perpendicular or horizontal. If our flag is crossed with the flags of other countries, or carried in a parade beside them, it should always be at the right.
In unveiling a monument, the flag should never be allowed to drop to the ground, but so arranged that it can be drawn up and will then float over the monument.
If draped over a casket, the blue field should be at the head. If used as the covering of an altar, nothing except the Bible should be placed upon it, and the union should be at the right.
Distress at sea is indicated by hanging the flag union down.
Always stand when "The Star-Spangled Banner" is played.
For those people who, whether maliciously or ignorantly, show any disrespect to the flag, strenuous laws have been passed in most of the States. In Massachusetts, a post of the Grand Army or a camp of Spanish War veterans may put the name of the organization upon the flag, but no other lettering is permitted. Any one who mutilates the flag or in any way treats it with contempt is likely to fare worse than did John Endicott in colonial days. The same respect is required to be shown to the flags of all countries with which the United States is at peace.
The representation of the flag must not be used to advertise merchandise, but it may be used on any publication designed to give information about the flag, or to promote patriotism, or to encourage the study of American history.
June 14, the anniversary of the day in 1777 on which the flag was adopted, has been chosen as "Flag Day."
The length of a flag should be very nearly twice its height, or, to be exact, in the proportion of 1.9 to 1. The length of the union should be three fourths the height of the whole flag; the height of the union should be that of seven stripes.
Perhaps a little fancifully, a star has been assigned to each State in the order of its ratification of the Constitution and admission to the Union. Beginning at the left upper corner and reading each row from left to right, the stars of the separate States are as follows:—
First row
DelawareDecember 7, 1787
PennsylvaniaDecember 12, 1787
New JerseyDecember 18, 1787
GeorgiaJanuary 2, 1788
ConnecticutJanuary 9, 1788
MassachusettsFebruary 6, 1788
MarylandApril 28, 1788
South CarolinaMay 23, 1788
Second row
New HampshireJune 21, 1788
VirginiaJune 25, 1788
New YorkJuly 26, 1788
North CarolinaNovember 21, 1789
Rhode IslandMay 29, 1790
VermontMarch 4, 1791
KentuckyJune 1, 1792
TennesseeJune 1, 1796
Third row
OhioFebruary 19, 1803
LouisianaApril 30, 1812
IndianaDecember 11, 1816
MississippiDecember 10, 1817
IllinoisDecember 3, 1818
AlabamaDecember 14, 1819
MaineMarch 15, 1820
MissouriAugust 10, 1821
Fourth row
ArkansasJune 15, 1836
MichiganJanuary 26, 1837
FloridaMarch 3, 1845
TexasDecember 29, 1845
IowaDecember 28, 1846
WisconsinMay 29, 1848
CaliforniaSeptember 9, 1850
MinnesotaMay 11, 1858
Fifth row
OregonFebruary 14, 1859
KansasJanuary 29, 1861
West VirginiaJune 19, 1863
NevadaOctober 31, 1864
NebraskaMarch 1, 1867
ColoradoAugust 1, 1876
North DakotaNovember 2, 1889
South DakotaNovember 2, 1889
Sixth row
MontanaNovember 8, 1889
WashingtonNovember 11, 1889
IdahoJuly 3, 1890
WyomingJuly 10, 1890
UtahJanuary 4, 1896
OklahomaNovember 16, 1907
New MexicoJanuary 6, 1912
ArizonaFebruary 14, 1912