Repair & Improve

Let Flag Fly On 4th Of July

by Tom Kraeutler, AOL Home Improvement Editor

As you prepare to bring out the stars and stripes for the 4th of July, here are a few tips to help ensure the honor of the flag and our nation’s independence with a careful, thoughtful display:

According to the United States Flag Code: "No disrespect should be shown to the flag of the United States of America". Here’s how to honor and display the flag to make sure it gets the respect it needs and deserves:

HANDLE WITH CARE - Always handle the flag carefully. It should not touch the ground, become worn or soiled.

UNION UP - The flag should be displayed with the blue union up, except as a distress signal in times of dire emergency.  So, if you fly your flag from a staff, make sure the union is stationed at the staff’s peak, and if the flag is displayed on a flat surface outside or inside the home, the union should be uppermost and to the flag’s own right─that is, to the observer’s left. One more thing: never use the flag as a wrapping or any other sort of decoration. That’s what red, white and blue bunting is for.

RAISE BRISKLY - When hoisting the flag, raise it briskly. Lower it ceremoniously to a recipient’s waiting hands and arms, taking care that no part of it touches the ground or any nearby objects along the way. Then fold the flag neatly and carefully for storage.

LIGHTS ON - If you leave the flag up at night - make sure there is a light on it at all times. Pick a spot that’s illuminated by a porch or street light, or consider installing sensor light that automatically comes on in the evening.

NO ADS PLEASE - The American Flag should never be used for advertising, or printed onto anything designed for disposal, like napkins and paper plates. The Stars and Stripes should also not be embroidered onto furniture, cushions and handkerchiefs, or worn as clothing. Flag pins are OK to wear however, so long as they are displayed on the left lapel, nearest the heart.

DISPOSE WITH DIGNITY - If the flag becomes worn out, make sure to dispose of it properly - preferably by burning it.

So next time you’re driving down your street and pulling into the driveway of your beautiful home - think about flying the American Flag - the symbol of the freedom that made these and so many more things possible.

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