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Honor the nation's colors on Flag Day

  • Published
  • By Pascual Flores
  • Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst Public Affairs
JOINT BASE MCGUIRE-DIX-LAKEHURST, N.J. --  Many public buildings in towns and homes across America flew the nation's Flag June 14 in honor of Flag Day.

A celebration of Continental Congress adoption of the American flag in the First Flag Resolution of June 14, 1777, Flag Day was not officially recognized until President Harry Truman signed it into law in 1949.

"Flag day to me represents the symbol of unity of our nation," said Tech. Sgt. Jared Lacovara, McGuire Elite Honor Guard lead trainer. "Our flag represents this great nation we live in."

Federal law stipulates many aspects of flag etiquette and sections of law dealing with American Flag etiquette. These rules are generally referred to as the Flag Code.

According to the United States Code Title 4 Chapter 1 - The Flag: The flag of the United States shall be 13 horizontal stripes, alternate red and white; and the union of the flag shall be 50 stars representing 50 states, white in a blue field.

The flag should be displayed on all days, especially on: New Year's Day, Jan. 1; Inauguration Day, Jan. 20; Martin Luther King Jr.'s Birthday, third Monday in January; Lincoln's Birthday, Feb. 12; Washington's Birthday, third Monday in February; Easter Sunday (variable); Mother's Day, second Sunday in May; Armed Forces Day, third Saturday in May; Memorial Day (half-staff until noon), last Monday in May; Flag Day, June 14; Father's Day, third Sunday in June; Independence Day, July 4; Labor Day, first Monday in September; Constitution Day, Sept. 17; Columbus Day, second Monday in October; Navy Day, Oct. 27; Veterans Day, Nov. 11; Thanksgiving Day, fourth Thursday in November; and Christmas Day, Dec. 25.

General guidelines from the Flag Code on displaying the flag are:
· The flag should be lighted at all times, either by sunlight or by an appropriate light source.
· The flag should be flown in fair weather, unless the flag is designed for inclement weather use.
· The flag should never be dipped to any person or thing. It is flown upside down only as a distress signal.
· The flag should not be used for any decoration in general. Bunting of blue, white and red stripes is available for these purposes. The blue stripe of the bunting should be on the top.
· The flag should never be used for any advertising purpose. It should not be embroidered, printed or otherwise impressed on such articles as cushions, handkerchiefs, napkins, boxes, or anything intended to be discarded after temporary use. Advertising signs should not be attached to the staff or halyard.
· The flag should not be used as part of a costume or athletic uniform, except that a flag patch may be used on the uniform of military personnel, fireman, policeman and members of patriotic organizations.
· The flag should never have any mark, insignia, letter, word, number, figure or drawing of any kind placed on it, or attached to it.
· The flag should never be used for receiving, holding, carrying or delivering anything.
· When the flag is lowered, no part of it should touch the ground or any other object; it should be received by waiting hands and arms. To store the flag it should be folded neatly and ceremoniously.
· The flag should be cleaned and mended when necessary.
· When a flag is so worn it is no longer fit to serve as a symbol of our country, it should be destroyed by burning in a dignified manner.
· Only the president and governors of the state can order flags on government buildings to be flown at half staff.
· When a flag is no longer serviceable or repairable, it should be destroyed in a dignified manner, such as burning.
· It is acceptable to wash or dry clean an American flag when it is soiled or otherwise dirty.
· People do not have to destroy a flag that has touched the ground. If it becomes dirty, the flag should be cleaned.
· The Flag Code does not prohibit any individual from having the flag draped across a coffin. The deceased does not have to be a veteran to have the flag draped on their coffin.

Responsible for upholding of the Flag Code and customs and traditions of the nation's flag on Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst, falls on the shoulders of the men and women of the McGuire Elite Honor Guard. Their duties include serving on the firing party, two-man and six-man flag folding details, pall bearers, color guard and saber cordon.

"I am very happy that America has a special Flag Day, but to me personally, everyday is Flag Day," said Lacovara, a resident of Pennsauken, N.J., and eight-year Air Force Reservist with the 514th Air Mobility Wing, currently assigned to the 87th Force Support Squadron's Elite Honor Guard. "Got one on my arm, I fly one in my heart."