Any American knows these lyrics well: “And the rockets’ red glare, the bombs bursting in air, gave proof through the night that our flag was still there.†The U.S. national anthem conjures up patriotic images of a flag surviving through a long night of war as a symbol of our country’s unending strength. In modern times, the flag still represents our country’s freedom, but we now have guidelines about flying the American flag during the night in order to show respect for our great nation.
The universal custom to display the flag only from sunrise to sunset on buildings and on stationary flagstaffs in the open. However, when a patriotic effect is desired, the flag may be displayed 24 hours a day if properly illuminated during the hours of darkness.
There are eight places in the United States where official proclamations and laws have stated that a flag must be flown 24 hours a day. These are Fort McHenry National Monument and Historic Shrine; Flag House Square; the United States Marine Corps Memorial; on the green in Lexington, Massachusetts; the White House; the Washington Monument; United States Customs Ports of Entry; and the grounds of the National Memorial Arch in Valley Forge, Pennsylvania.
But like many rules, there is an exception. You can keep your flag flying 24-hours if it is properly illuminated during all hours of darkness. But what exactly is "proper illumination?" The American Legion interprets that as a light source that is specifically placed to light up the flag at night. The light must be bright enough that the US flag is recognizable by the casual observer passing by.
As Memorial Day nears, many of us will be flying Old Glory high and proud. With that, comes the responsibility and respect our flag deserves. There are laws that govern how and when the Stars and Stripes can be flown. The flag should be lighted at all times, either by sunlight or by an appropriate light source.
However, there is a barrage of cheap flagpole lightings being imported and sold, that do not comply with the flag statute. This is bad for a number of reasons. Imported stuff is cheaply made and more importantly, the designs, materials, colors, and methods do not compare well with the better quality, longer-lasting, and correctly designed flagpole lightings made by American manufacturers. The Flag Company Inc specialized in flags and flagpole lightings offered a special edition of solar powered flagpole lightings to provide innovative solutions for individual projects.
The universal custom to display the flag only from sunrise to sunset on buildings and on stationary flagstaffs in the open. However, when a patriotic effect is desired, the flag may be displayed 24 hours a day if properly illuminated during the hours of darkness.
There are eight places in the United States where official proclamations and laws have stated that a flag must be flown 24 hours a day. These are Fort McHenry National Monument and Historic Shrine; Flag House Square; the United States Marine Corps Memorial; on the green in Lexington, Massachusetts; the White House; the Washington Monument; United States Customs Ports of Entry; and the grounds of the National Memorial Arch in Valley Forge, Pennsylvania.
But like many rules, there is an exception. You can keep your flag flying 24-hours if it is properly illuminated during all hours of darkness. But what exactly is "proper illumination?" The American Legion interprets that as a light source that is specifically placed to light up the flag at night. The light must be bright enough that the US flag is recognizable by the casual observer passing by.
As Memorial Day nears, many of us will be flying Old Glory high and proud. With that, comes the responsibility and respect our flag deserves. There are laws that govern how and when the Stars and Stripes can be flown. The flag should be lighted at all times, either by sunlight or by an appropriate light source.
However, there is a barrage of cheap flagpole lightings being imported and sold, that do not comply with the flag statute. This is bad for a number of reasons. Imported stuff is cheaply made and more importantly, the designs, materials, colors, and methods do not compare well with the better quality, longer-lasting, and correctly designed flagpole lightings made by American manufacturers. The Flag Company Inc specialized in flags and flagpole lightings offered a special edition of solar powered flagpole lightings to provide innovative solutions for individual projects.
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