Inquiries About Flag Code
We have had a several inquiries regarding our display of the American and French flags on Route 263 at the entrance to the Moland House.
We fly the French flag to honor Lafayette who took up his military duties as a Major General for the first time at the Moland House. The thought usually is that the American and French flags should not be flying at the same height, and that the American flag should always be in the highest position, but that is not what the flag code states. As you can see from the passages below taken directly from the code, that would be the case if we are talking about state flags or pennants, but not other countries.
If you take a look at paragraph (g) it clearly states that in time of peace, all nations’ flags are to be flown from poles of the same height and one should not be above the other. The flag should also be flown to its own right, or to the viewer’s left as stated below. The view of the flags that is the most important is that of vehicles moving south on Rte. 263 where is the American flag is to the left of the French flag.
To properly display the American flag, the POW/MIA flag, and a state flag together, certain precautions must be taken. First and foremost, the American flag must always have precedence. The flag should always be to its own right (or the viewer’s left) of other flags or in front of them, and never behind, below, or to its own left
(e) The flag of the United States of America should be at the center and at the highest point of the group when a number of flag of States or localities or pennants of societies are grouped and displayed from staffs.
(f) When flag 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 flag 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 United States flag’s right.
(g) When flag of two or more nations are displayed, they are to be flown from separate staffs of the same height. The flag 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.