Mounting Flags and Guidons on the Staff

1. General

Flags and guidons are secured to the staff by either a hook-and-pile fastener or a leather tab.
The flannel lining within the staff sleeve will deteriorate through normal use. When deterioration occurs, the hook-and-pile fastener shall be sewn through the flag material to ensure continued retention, consistent with the permanent attachment provided by the leather tab.

2. Army and Air Force Method (All Flags and Guidons)

a. Orientation on the Spade Finial

The hook-and-pile tab shall be mounted on the flat side of the spade.
The seam of the staff sleeve—where the fringe gathers at the top—shall rest on the opposite flat side of the spade.

When carried, the sleeve seam shall face to the rear of the color bearer, enabling proper posting so the flag assumes the correct diamond orientation with the fringe positioned to the bearer’s right.

b. Upper Fastener Security (Recommended)

1. Using a 1/8-inch drill bit, drill a pilot hole approximately ½ inch below the junction of the staff and upper ferrule to a depth of about ¼ inch.
2. For adhesive-backed hook-and-pile fasteners, perform drilling with the hook portion attached to the staff.
3. Insert a small screw with a broad head to mechanically secure the fastener.
4. Slide the flag onto the staff and engage the fastener.

c. Lower Fastener Security (Recommended)

1. Align the sleeve seam straight, avoiding undue tension on the material.
2. Turn the lower portion of the sleeve outward to expose the bottom fastener.
3. With excess material drawn slightly taut and aligned to the same flat side of the spade, mark the drilling location.
4. Drill and secure the lower fastener using the procedure described for the upper fastener.

d. Leather Tab Variant

When a leather tab is present, the upper attachment remains unchanged.
For lower retention:

• Wrap a 12-inch strip of 2-inch plastic wrap around the leather tab.
• Secure the wrap with strong tape applied over the plastic, not directly to the leather.

Direct tape contact with leather accelerates material degradation and is not authorized.

3. Marine Corps Method (All Flags and Guidons)

a. Orientation on the Spade Finial

The hook-and-pile tab shall be mounted on the edge side of the spade.
The sleeve seam at the fringe junction shall rest on the opposite edge side.

When carried, the seam shall face to the left of the color bearer.
This orientation supports the Marine Corps Present Arms procedure in which the organizational staff is rotated vertical (“cutting the cake”).

b. Posting and Display

Proper orientation ensures the flag diamonds correctly with the fringe positioned to the right when posted.

Marine Corps color displays commonly employ large floor stands allowing staffs to rest in a V or X configuration, producing correct drape with the flat surfaces of spade finials facing the audience.

4. Navy and Coast Guard Battle-Ax / Pike-Pole Method (All Flags)

a. Applicability

• Guidons: Follow the Marine Corps method.
• Flags with battle-ax, halberd, spread-eagle, battalion lance, or firefighter pike-pole finials: Follow this section.

b. Orientation on the Finial

The hook-and-pile tab shall be mounted on the rear surface of the finial.
The sleeve seam at the fringe junction shall align with the blade, face, or hook portion of the finial.

When carried, the seam shall lie directly beneath the blade or hook and face forward while the color bearer stands or marches.

c. Posting and Display

Prior to posting, the staff shall be rotated 180 degrees to achieve proper diamond orientation, ensuring:

• Fringe positioned to the right
• Blade or hook facing the audience

This rotation is mandatory for correct ceremonial display.

Above, is the firefighter pike pole flagstaff showing the technique for mounting the Velcro-type fastener: the hook faces forward and the fastener tape is attached 180-degrees opposite the hook. The Battle-ax/Battalion Lance, pictured below, uses the same technique: fastener attached 180-degrees opposite the blade.

There are two parts to the hook-and-pile fastener, one is already partly sewn to the flag at the top and bottom of the flagstaff (pole) hem and one is sticking to it and had a glue-like backing to make it adhere to the staff. Here is how to attach that sticky-backed piece as pictured above. The arrow in the top picture points to the small hole in the hook-and-pile fastener tab where you can drill a hole and then insert a small, thin screw (about a half-inch long). The screw should stick out no more than a quarter inch. When you attach the flag, ensure the hook-and-pile fastener(s) that is sewn into the flag goes over the screw. If you are going to mount that flag at the top and bottom, which is good thinking, you need to perfectly align the tabs and ensure that the tabs and screws do not pull/stress the flag material.

The eagle finial is NOT AUTHORIZED for any military color guard other than for dignitaries whose gun salute is 19 or higher, you must use the spade (Navy and CG use the battle axe). Below, are flags from my church that needed some maintenance. It is for permanent display only, hence the eagle and cross. Only the light ash staff is authorized for a color guard. The gold cord and tassels are NOT AUTHORIZED for use by any military color guard.

1. Place your tab on the staff so that the hole of the tab (Velcro or leather) is about a quarter inch below the base of the upper finial.
2. Drill a starter hole. It should be small and short. Drilling the hole is best so that the wood does not split.
3. Once the hole is drilled, apply a coating of varnish and insert the screw. The varnish keeps moisture out. The wood “breathes” under the ferrules and middle screw joint where the wood is not varnished.
4. With the finial flat, mount the spikey Velcro strip at the top, over the hole.
   • If your finial has a face, you must mount the strip at the back of the staff/finial.
   • If your flag has a usable leather tab, use the screw and then wind strapping tape or a long strip of cling film from the kitchen around the tab.
5. Insert a small screw. I used screws about a half-inch long.
6. Mount the flag onto the staff and place the fuzzy velcro strip around the screw.

Repeat the process for the tab at the bottom of the sleeve.

Attaching the Cord and Tassels

The gold cord and tassels is not authorized for any military color guard. Please read this article for more information, All About the Military Color Guard.

1. Loop the cord through the eye (if there is one, if not there is a special knot to use).
2. bring the tassels up, under, and through the loop. Tighten the loop.
3. The tassels should hang evenly.

What about flags that still have a leather tab?
Thin strapping tape is a must for you! Eventually, you may want to purchase hook-and-pile fasteners and sew them into your flag(s) at the top and bottom of the staff sleeve.

So, what does mounting a flag like described above do?
It allows you to carry and post the flag the way it was intended. You see, the leather or hook-and-pile fastener tabs are sewn into the flagstaff hem directly across from the sew line which means that when the screws and tabs are mounted squarely so that the flag will hang as it is supposed to do with the point where the fringe meets centered on the flat spade. Like the American flag in this picture below (USAF photo):

Notice that all three flags in this picture above are not mounted the same way. That’s a no-no. The other two flags are the German and USAF.

Originally written in March 2018. Updated for better readability in February 2026.