Flag Etiquette 101
In my lifetime I’ve been to quite a few sporting events. In my youth we learned if we were wearing a hat of any kind, we were to take it off when the national anthem was played and put our right hand over our hearts. Now years later I find many still follow that flag etiquette, yet many do not. I choose to think it is not because people are protesting (though I’m sure some do), rather I believe it is because flag etiquette is not taught any more or rarely taught if at all.
When I was a boy, I was doubly blessed in that I grew up in a military home. I remember several times when I happened to be on base with my father when at sunset (sundown) a bugler would start to blow taps which could be heard all over the base. No matter what we were doing or where we were going my father would immediately stop and if he were carrying anything he would set them down, stand at attention, face the flag and raise his right hand to his cap in salute as the bugler would make his instrument wail solemnly as other sailors lowered the flag of our nation.
I remember thinking it was odd because I had heard that tune while watching many a military movie when it was played during a military funeral.
The second way I was blessed was having been in Cub Scouts and Boy Scouts as a youth. There I learned (in reference to the flag) how to salute and when it was appropriate. When we had our individual Patrol meetings, we would start each meeting off by standing, turn toward the flag then come to attention. We would then raise our right hand over our heart (still at attention) and recite the pledge of allegiance.
When our entire troop would come together for more formal meetings where awards and merit badges were awarded, we would repeat the same process.
These weren’t actions of submission such as in a cult. They were actions of teaching young men about patriotism, about the flag, what it represented, it’s history and the blood our fellow countrymen have shed for it ever since those shots at Lexington and Concord were fired.
Fast forward a few decades and I’m watching news coverage of President Trump in the stands during a parade in Washington, D.C. and he is standing as the colors (our stars and stripes and the flags of all six branches of the service march smartly past. Our President has his hand to his brow in salute of the colors. I thought that was interesting. I couldn’t remember seeing another President saluting the flag. I’m not suggesting they didn’t only that I couldn’t recall seeing it before. I realized it was wholly appropriate. For even though he had never served in the armed forces before he was, as President, the Commander-in-Chief of our entire armed forces and as such entitled to the honor of a salute to the flag.
What put me on this train of thought of flag etiquette recently was watching a football game recently. As the national anthem was played the reaction from the crowd irritated me. Most of them stood which was well and good and appropriate. Some took their caps off as they should, a few even placed their right hand over their heart. The majority though were talking and laughing as the anthem played, disrespecting our men and women in uniform.
Why to so many citizens of the greatest country to ever be on this earth not give homage to the banner of our country, the same flag which flew over the battlefields of Yorktown, Charleston, the Somme, Iwo Jima, the Chosin Reservoir, Hill 937, Fallujah and Sanjin?
Well, I have my opinions, but I digress.
So, in considering on these matters, I realized they don’t really teach citizenship like they did when I was growing up and also in the Boy Scouts. We are losing our opportunities to honor our national symbol, and our country.
In response I have decided to present instructions on basic flag etiquette.
First, military personnel. The military hand salute (hand to cap) during the national anthem and whenever our nations colors are presented or raised or lowered is only to be done by military personnel and is reserved for active-duty service members in uniform, veterans, and military retirees—even when not in uniform.
Federal law (Title 36 U.S. Code § 301) specifies that only individuals in uniform salute; out-of-uniform veterans and active service members may also salute, while other persons should use the hand-over-heart gesture.
For civilians (meaning without military service background), using the military hand to cap salute is considered inappropriate and improper flag etiquette. The distinction helps reserve the meaning and respect associated with the military salute among those who have served. This is akin to but not as heinous as an act of stolen valor (pretending to have served but never did).
Secondly, civilians. When the national anthem is played or performed or the colors are presented or the flag is raised or lowered civilians should stand, hats should be immediately removed and remain off for the duration of the anthem or flag presentation. They should then face the flag, then come to attention. Civilians then have one of two actions they can take. If they are holding their hat, they should hold it in their right hand so that when the right hand is over the area of the heart the cap should be near or over their left shoulder. If they choose not to use their cap at this time, they should simply hold their right hand over the area of their heart (still at attention).
Exceptions for removing headwear are recognized for religious headwear. For a female wearing a cap or unisex hat they must follow the same guidelines as civilian men but may retain their hats if they are distinctly feminine. Also, persons with medical needs or religious requirements are also exempt from hat removal.
So, with this information now locked in your center of knowledge I hope you will put it to practice at your next opportunity to do so and show the respect our country deserves.
