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It’s Emily Post meets Betsy Ross — the dos and don’ts of flag etiquette.

With the Fourth of July this Friday, and many of us proudly displaying American flags in front of our homes, there’s no better time to become well versed in what is acceptable — and what isn’t — when it comes to the Stars and Stripes.

“I’d say the main thing is to keep it washed and mended,” said Bob Reneau, who owns U.S.A. Supplies and Signs Inc. on Rosedale Highway with his wife, Tammy. He said the Fourth of July is the busiest time of the year for flag sales at their business. They offer everything from 4-by-6-inch flags on sticks for $1 to huge, 20-by-30-foot flags, as well as flags from numerous nations and states.

When it comes to retiring flags, Reneau recommends that you contact your local Veterans of Foreign Wars chapter and ask them for help properly disposing of your flag. The American Legion and some Boy Scout and Girl Scout troops also can provide this service.

Notable flag violations in the news include the 2004 Super Bowl, when the same infamous half-time show that saw Janet Jackson’s “wardrobe malfunction” also featured the wearing of an American flag by performer Kid Rock. He later removed the flag poncho and hurled it over his head. Apparently, the rocker from Detroit had not reviewed Section 8d of the Flag Code which reads, “The flag should never be used as wearing apparel.”

On the local flag front, in 2006, the Stars & Stripes were supposedly lowered to half-staff at now-Assemblywoman Jean Fuller’s news conference so it would better fit into TV camera view finders as a backdrop behind her head. That’s a no-no.

For many well-meaning patriots, they may be violating the Flag Code without even realizing it. For instance, Section 8i indicates that it is inappropriate to use flag napkins and flag paper plates — anything with the image of the flag that is designed for temporary use and later discarded.

According to Mike Buss, assistant director of the American Legion National Headquarters and flag etiquette expert, common questions center on the proper illumination for flying a flag at night — there should either be a light directly upon the flag or sufficient local lighting to make the flag easily visible at night; flying a flag in bad weather — it’s OK as most flags sold now are all-weather flags; and flying a flag at half-staff — only the president, the governor, and the mayor of the District of Columbia have the authority to fly the flag at half-staff in certain circumstances.

Buss said another common concern is flying flags of two or more nations.

“If this is the case, they should be flown from separate staffs of the same height and be of approximately equal size,” said Buss, adding that international usage forbids the display of the flag of one nation above that of another nation in time of peace.

And if your neighbor is flying the Mexican flag but no U.S. flag? That’s OK, said Buss, the Flag Code does not require you to fly the U.S. flag and it does not forbid you from displaying a foreign flag.

“However, we would certainly hope that you also fly the U.S. flag,” said Buss.

How to properly display the U.S. flag

• When the flag is displayed over the middle of the street, it should be suspended vertically, with the union to the north in an east and west street, or to the east in a north and south street.

• The flag of the United States of America, when it is displayed with another flag against a wall from crossed staffs, should be on the right, the flag’s own right (that means the viewer’s left), and its staff should be in front of the staff of the other flag.

• The flag, when flown at half-staff, should be first hoisted to the peak for an instant and then lowered to the half-staff position. The flag should be again raised to the peak before it is lowered for the day. By “half-staff” is meant lowering the flag to one-half the distance between the top and bottom of the staff. Crepe streamers may be affixed to spear heads or flagstaffs in a parade only by order of the President of the United States.

• When flags of states, cities, or localities, or pennants of societies are flown on the same halyard with the flag of the United States, the latter should always be at the peak. When the flags are flown from adjacent staffs, the flag of the United States should be hoisted first and lowered last. No such flag or pennant may be placed above the flag of the United States or to the right of the flag of the United States (the viewer’s left). When the flag is half-masted, both flags are half-masted, with the US flag at the mid-point and the other flag below.

• When the flag is suspended over a sidewalk from a rope extending from a house to a pole at the edge of the sidewalk, the flag should be hoisted out, union first, from the building.

• When the flag of the United States is displayed from a staff projecting horizontally or at an angle from the window sill, balcony, or front of a building, the union of the flag should be placed at the peak of the staff unless the flag is at half-staff.

• When the flag is used to cover a casket, it should be so placed that the union is at the head and over the left shoulder. The flag should not be lowered into the grave or ever touch the ground.

• When the flag is displayed in a manner other than by being flown from a staff, it should be displayed flat, whether indoors or out. When displayed either horizontally or vertically against a wall, the union should be uppermost and to the flag’s own right, that is, to the observer’s left. When displayed in a window it should be displayed in the same way, that is with the union or blue field to the left of the observer in the street. When festoons, rosettes or drapings are desired, bunting of blue, white and red should be used, but never the flag.

• When carried in a procession with another flag, or flags, should be either on the marching right; that is, the flag’s own right, or, if there is a line of other flags, in front of the center of that line.

• The U.S. flag should be at the center and at the highest point of the group when a number of flags of States or localities or pennants of societies are grouped and displayed from staffs.

• When flags of two or more nations are displayed, they are to be flown from separate staffs of the same height. The flags should be of approximately equal size. International usage forbids the display of the flag of one nation above that of another nation in time of peace. The order of precedence for flags generally is National flags (US first, then others in alphabetical order in English), State (host state first, then others in the order of admission) and territories (Washington DC, Puerto Rico, etc.), Military (in order of establishment: Army, Marine Corps, Navy, Air Force, Coast Guard), then other.

• When displayed from a staff in a church or public auditorium on or off a podium, the flag of the United States of America should hold the position of superior prominence, in advance of the audience, and in the position of honor at the clergyman’s or speaker’s right as he faces the audience. Any other flag so displayed should be placed on the left of the clergyman or speaker (to the right of the audience). Please note that the old guidelines differed from this updated and simplified one.

• When the flag is displayed on a car, the staff shall be fixed firmly to the chassis or clamped to the right fender.

• When hung in a window, place the blue union in the upper left, as viewed from the street.

Source: www.ushistory.org/betsy/flagetiq.html