What do you do if the American flag touches the ground?

However, you are not required to destroy the flag if it touches the ground. As long as the flag remains suitable for display, even if washing or dry-cleaning (which is an acceptable practice) is required, the flag may continue to be displayed.

What do you do if a flag touches the ground?

The only time when you should destroy or retire an American flag is when it's severely soiled or damaged to the point where it's no longer fitting to display. If your American flag touches the ground, pick it up and reattach it to the flagpole.

What happens if you put the American flag touch the ground?

Some people assume that the American flag must be destroyed if it touches the ground, but this is just a myth. The U.S. Flag Code — government legislation that specifies rules for displaying, maintaining and retiring the American flag — doesn't require the disposal of the American Flag if it touches the ground.

Do you have to destroy a flag if it touches the ground?

Does the flag have to be destroyed if it touches the ground? Answer: Care should be exercised in the handling of the flag, to protect it from becoming soiled or damaged. However, you are not required to destroy the flag if it touches the ground.

Why do you have to burn the flag when it touches the ground?

Nowhere in the U.S. Flag Code does it say that the American flag must be burned or retired if it touches the ground. This is simply has a myth that many Americans have come to believe over the years. You should still use caution to avoid letting the American flag touch the ground.

When the US Flag Accidentally Touches the Ground

Why should the American flag never touch the ground?

The Flag Code states that the flag should not touch anything beneath it, including the ground. This is stated to indicate that care should be exercised in the handling of the flag, to protect it from becoming soiled or damaged. You are not required to destroy the flag when this happens.

What are the do's and don'ts of an American flag?

The flag should never be carried flat or horizontally, but always aloft and free. The flag should never be fastened, displayed, used, or stored so that it might be easily torn, soiled, or damaged in any way. The flag should never be used as covering for a ceiling. The flag should never have anything placed on it.

Can you wash the American flag?

These are just some of the rules from the United States Flag Code. Thankfully, there are no rules against washing your American flag. If you're getting your flag ready to hang for the 4th of July and notice it's looking a little dirty, it's completely okay to wash it before putting it out.

What is the only flag that can fly above the American flag?

American Flag. The Church Pennant during church services for the personnel of the Navy and No other flag may be flown above The United States flag except at the United Nations Headquarters. The UN flag may be placed above flags of all member nations.

How long will a flag last?

The U.S. Government generally expects a nylon or cotton flag to last 90 days based on being flown daily from sunrise to sunset – but not during periods of inclement weather. Tests have shown that, in some cases, a flag flown 24 hours a day will last only one-fourth as long as one flown only during the daylight hours.

Is it OK to iron an American flag?

Ironing the U.S. Flag

Ironing the flag is permitted, and even encouraged to allow for it to flow better. Iron synthetic fabrics on the coolest setting, and iron cotton flags with a hotter setting. A steamer is another effective way to remove wrinkles from flags.

Are you supposed to take flag down in rain?

The flag should not be subject to weather damage, so it should not be displayed during rain, snow and wind storms unless it is an all-weather flag. It should be displayed often, but especially on national and state holidays and special occasions.

Is it disrespectful to wear American flag shorts?

Answer: Unless an article of clothing is made from an actual United States flag, there is NO breach of flag etiquette whatsoever. People are simply expressing their patriotism and love of country by wearing an article of clothing that happens to be red, white, and blue with stars and stripes.

Is it disrespectful to fly a flag on a truck?

Decals and fabric flags (flown) are acceptable; however, draping a real flag flat over the hood, trunk, or truck bed is considered disrespectful to the flag. Q: Is it OK to fly a flag on a truck? A: As long as it doesn't interfere with the driver's field of view or obstruct the vehicle operation in any other way.

Is it illegal to fly the flag upside down?

The FBI rep said there is no law against flying the flag upside down. The Flag Code clearly states that the American flag is not to be flown upside down "except as a signal of dire distress in instance of extreme danger to life or property."

What does a full black American flag mean?

What does a black American Flag mean? Black flags have historically been used to signify that no quarter will be given. When translated into modern language, this means that captured enemy combatants will be killed rather than taken prisoner.

Can you bury an American flag with a person?

General American Flag Etiquette

A flag should not be lowered into a grave or touch the ground. A flag should never be used as a covering for a statue or monument. A flag should never be used in such a way that will allow it to be torn, dirtied or damaged.

Can I sell a shirt with a flag on it?

There's no flag police,” Leepson says. The code frowns upon commercial use of the flag, like clothing. The code states that the flag shouldn't be used in clothing, drapery, or bedding, and that no part of the flag should ever be used as a costume or athletic uniform.

Is it OK to wear a flag shirt?

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.

Can I sell a shirt with the American flag on it?

"Every item of apparel that they're wearing that has an American flag on it: shirt, shorts, bikini, hat, technically is in violation of the flag code," said Marc Leepson, author of "Flag: An American Biography."

What are 3 things one should never do out of respect to the flag?

Is it illegal to fly a flag at night without a light?

In the case of the American flag, yes, it is illegal. The US Flag Code states that it is illegal to fly the US flag at night without adequate light. The American flag code is part of federal law. Each state using it as a foundation for its own specific flag codes regarding the handling and display of the American flag.

When should flag be taken down?

It shall be flown from sunrise to sunset irrespective of weather conditions. The flag may be flown on such a building at night also, but this should be only on very special occasions. The National flag shall always be hoisted briskly and lowered slowly and ceremoniously.

Can you steam an American flag?

How to remove wrinkles from a polyester or nylon flag? You can use a clothing steamer and you can hang the item flat and apply gentle steam to the wrinkles until they flatten and relax. Your second option is to hand or machine wash cold and then hang dry it.

How do you store a flag when not in use?

Store It in a Dark Place

Ensure your flag retains its beautiful red, white, and blue hues by keeping it away from sunlight when it's not in use. If you're storing it near a window in a clear container, the colors can fade from the sunlight exposure and heat will degrade the flag's quality and longevity.