Ed Blon, left, presides over an American flag disposal ceremony hosted by Belmont American Legion Post 312 last June. Burning is a proper method of disposing of worn, unserviceable flags — one aspect of flag etiquette to consider this Memorial Day weekend. T-L File Photo

BELMONT — The observation of Memorial Day to honor those who died while serving in the United States’ armed forces inspires many to display the American flag.

Doing so is a way for American citizens to show their love and devotion to the ideals of our nation and to those who were willing to sacrifice their lives to ensure those ideals live on. But accidentally violating the traditional etiquette for displaying the flag can offend those the gesture was intended to honor.

As the most recognizable and revered symbol of our country, the Stars and Stripes is protected by a codified set of rules and customs that were drafted by the American Legion along with 68 other patriotic, civil and military organizations in 1923 and adopted as public law by Congress in 1942.

These rules govern not only the proper display and handling of the flag, but also proper conduct toward the flag during ceremonies where it is displayed.

Steve Smith, a U.S. Marine Corps veteran and commandant of the Walter S. Kildow Detachment of the Marine Corps League based in Zanesville, thinks that if people really understood the significance the flag holds to those serving our country, they would educate themselves on proper flag etiquette and follow the code.

“The big importance, in my opinion, is you’ve got sons and daughters and fathers and mothers that are trying to keep the country together and keep us free and united,” Smith said. “That flag associates you with America and everyone in America. It’s what brings us together as a country. It’s the base of our family tree as a country.”

Smith said the American Legion website, legion.org, is one of the best places to find the full flag code and other information concerning flag advocacy.

According to the code, the field of blue with the white stars, known as the union, should always be in the upper left hand corner whether the flag is being displayed vertically or horizontally. A common exception to this rule happens when the flag is affixed to the right shoulder of a uniform, according to Smith, since the union should be pointing toward the wearer’s heart.

According to Smith, the rules for the proper display of flags at the graves of service men and women, which is only supposed to be permitted on Memorial Day, has changed occasionally over the years and that precedent is set at Arlington National Cemetery.

Some flag etiquette do’s:

∫ Display the flag from sunrise to sunset or make sure it is properly illuminated during hours of darkness in the open or on buildings.

∫ When placed on a single staff or lanyard, the U.S. flag should be above all other flags.

∫ When displayed in a row of flags, the U.S. flag should be on it’s own right, the observer’s left. The flags of other nations should be at the same height, while state and local flags are traditionally flown lower.

∫ The flag may be flown at half staff on special days by order of the president of the United States or the governor of a given state.

∫ On Memorial Day, the flag should be flown at half staff until noon and then raised.

∫ A flag to be flown at half staff should first be raised to the peak for an instant before being lowered to half staff.

Some flag etiquette don’t’s:

∫ Never dip the U.S. flag to any person, other flag, or vessel.

∫ Never fasten or tie back the American flag; it should fall freely.

∫ Never fly the flag upside down unless there is an emergency.

∫ Never use the flag as clothing.

∫ Never carry the flag flat, carry things in it, or use it as a covering.

“It would be nice if they still taught that in schools, but it seems to have gone by the wayside,” Smith said.