FLAG ETIQUETTE

All Americans know that the Fourth of July is Independence Day, but do you know that June 14 is the day we celebrate Flag Day? The idea for a day to celebrate our flag originate in 1885, when B.J. Cigrand, a school teacher in Wisconsin arranged for his pupils to observe June 14, which was the 108th anniversary of the official adoption our flag, as “Flag Birthday.”

The idea grew, and in 1989 George Balch, a kindergarten teacher in New York City planned ceremonies for the children of his school on June 14, and his idea of celebrating Flag Day was adopted by the State Board of Education in New York. On June 14, 1891 the Betsy Ross House in Philadelphia held a Flag Celebration, giving all the children who participated a small flag to carry during the ceremony.

On May 30, 1916, President Woodrow Wilson, a former Governor of New Jersey, inspired by the three decades of state and local celebration s of Flag Day, officially established June 14 as National Flag Day.

While everyone loves to see and display their “Stars and Stripes” there is etiquette to properly do so. Here are a few of the basic rules:

· The flag is flown from sunrise to sunset
· If flown at night, the flag must be illuminated
· It is not to be flown in inclement weather
· Always raise and lower is ceremoniously
· After a tragedy or death, the flag is flown at half staff for 30 days.
· When flown on a staff or pole, the “union (the stars and blue field) is at the top
· The American flag is always at the top, State flags are below it
· Never let your flag touch the ground
· Fold the flag when storing it, even overnight
· When your flag is old and has seen better days, it should be burned or buried. Contact your local American Legion to see when they are retiring old flags.

For more information about Flag Day or the proper etiquette, please feel free to contact my office at 732-708-0900 or asmcorodemus@njleg.org.