It is very important to respect your flag and everybody should at least know how to respect our flag. Aside from obvious rules like not talking during a flag ceremony or folding it a certain way when you take the flag down, there are important rules that most people are not aware of.

According to the US flag code “The flag should not be used as “wearing apparel, bedding, or drapery”.Keep that in mind the next time you go shopping. A flag should not be worn on as a shirt. A flag should also not be part of a costume or uniform. If part of your halloween costume is carrying a flag around, that is okay but it should never be on your body.

“The flag should never be used for any advertising purpose.” Many companies have displayed a flag in their Fourth of July commercial. Our flag should also not be embroidered into anything so things like pillows or bandannas should not display our flag.

“The flag should never be used as a receptacle for receiving, holding, carrying, or delivering anything.” Think about that next time you are buying disposable paper plates for your fourth of July packet. You should never be throwing away your flag

I remember I was once at a Girl Scout camp and during the ceremony, the girl carrying the flag let it touch the ground. We immediately stopped the ceremony. We had to get another one to finish the ceremony. 

In US flag code it also states, “The flag should never be carried flat or horizontally, but always aloft and free.”

You may think these rules are strict and unnecessary but it is important to respect our flag and the people who fought for it.