American, Florida Flag Display Etiquette For Memorial Day 2021

FLORIDA — While many traditional Memorial Day services to honor those who have died while serving in the military are still on hold in 2021 because of the pandemic, residents may properly display the Stars and Stripes in Florida and throughout America.

The American flag on Memorial Day — which falls on Monday, May 31, this year — should at first be flown at half-staff, much like at other times of national mourning.

It's not as simple as raising the flag halfway up the flagpole and walking away, though. The U.S. flag code is specific about that.

The flag should be briskly raised to the peak and remain there for an instant before it is slowly lowered to the half-staff position, where it remains until noon. Then the flag is briskly hoisted to the peak again, where Old Glory remains until sunset, when it is slowly lowered.

It's an important piece of symbolism. Until noon, the flag flies at half-staff as a memorial for the nation's war dead; for the rest of the day, it flies full and high in a salute to living veterans.

The tradition predates the 20th century, National Flag Foundation Executive Director Clark Rogers told Live Science. "For the nation lives, and the flag is a symbol of illumination," he said in explaining how the noon flag-raising symbolizes the perseverance of the nation in the face of loss.

Not everyone has a flagpole, of course.

For flags that are mounted from the side of a home, window or balcony, a black crepe streamer can be affixed to the staff immediately below the flag's spearhead — the golden ball or spear-shaped ornament at the top of the staff, according to media mogul Martha Stewart. On a standard-size flag, the crepe should be no wider than one foot.

In all cases, make sure the flag is in pristine condition and isn't tattered and torn, and that its red and white bars and the union (the blue field of stars) are bright and vibrant. If the flag is no longer suitable for display, dispose of it properly, preferably in a ceremonial burning. American Legion posts and other veteran groups often have flag-disposal ceremonies.

See Also: Everything You Need For An Amazing Memorial Day Weekend

Florida State Flag Rules

The Sunshine State's official flag includes a white field with a red cross that has Florida's seal emblazoned at its center. The state seal was revised in 1985 to include a Seminole Indian woman, a steamboat and a sabal palm along with the motto "In God We Trust."

Florida's flag is flown daily, weather permitting, on buildings across the state. It may be flown at half-mast as ordered by the governor. It is traditionally flown at half-staff position, along with the American, flag on Memorial Day. Like the American flag, the state's flag should only be flown at half-staff until noon.

State law prohibits "the placing of any work, figure, mark, picture, design, drawing, or advertisement of any nature upon any flag, standard, color, ensign, or shield of the United States or of the state of Florida," according to the For more information about flag etiquette and laws in Florida, visit the department of state online.