All About POW/MIA Flag Protocol

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• I was in the Veterans Day Parade today and I saw a couple different presentations of the US Flag. The first float had the American Flag to its right with five national flags and the CA flag to its left. This was on the front of the float and in a straight line. The military flags were centered in the middle of the float (perpendicular to the front of the float).
  The second float had the US Flag centered and elevated, at the front of the float. Additional national and organizational flags were displayed (three to the right and three to the left) with several organizational flags displayed around the both sides and on the back of float.
  We attempted to resolve by using google, that was not good! Please help.
  Thank you in advance.

  • Mr. Ward,

    Sir, I don't know what you want resolved, but the displays sound like they conformed to standards.

    4 U.S. Code § 7 - Position and manner of display
    (a) The flag should not be displayed on a float in a parade except from a staff, or as provided in subsection (i) of this section.
    (i) When displayed either horizontally or vertically against a wall, the union should be uppermost and to the flag’s own right, that is, to the observer’s left. When displayed in a window, the flag should be displayed in the same way, with the union or blue field to the left of the observer in the street.

    DM

• Is there a special way to fold the POW/MIA flag?

  • No. There is no prescribed way to fold the POW/MIA flag

  • Ma'am,

    It IS essentially a novelty flag and only folded into a rectangle.

    DM

    • In a non military parade Color gaurd of firemen Where does the Pow/Mia flag go in the Possesion ..
      Thanks
      Tom Washer
      Retired Fire Chief

      • Chief Washer,

        Nowhere. There's no reason to carry it. It's essentially a novelty flag and not a government (national, state, city, county) flag.

        It's not authorized in military color guard formations and is only carried as a personal color at the funeral of a former POW/MIA.

        First responders have a unique situation where teams follow certain standards, create some out of necessity (fire axe and pike pole manuals), and some are ignored.

        That is my recommendation. To answer your question however, the POW is carried at the far left of all flags in the formation.

        DM

        • What does public law 116-67 what does this Bill from US congress stand for about the pow flag As to flying this banner 365 days per year .. did this bill have to do with Color guards Or only on flag poles ..
          Thanks
          Thomas Washer

        • Mr. Washer,

          Only flags on poles. Public Law is a directive to federal property such as military bases, Post Offices, Court Houses, Etc. It applies only to the flags flying on the flag pole/mast infront of these buildings. It does not affect or change any military regulation or instruction.

          Furthermore, Public Law is for civilians, the Military has their own laws, ordinances, and regulations which may or may not have a civilian counterpart.

• Somewhere I have read the flying of the POW flag below the USA flag. I have noticed here in the sounding area a few post office have the flying correct to what I had read. Directly flew to me does not mean 3-4 feet below the USA flag, but directly. is in contact with; the bottom gourmet of the USA flag and the top gourmet of the POW flag should be hook in the same, which would mean to mean, directly; but also would mean we will never let go or leave behind our troops. If this is not correct how can this be made a flag requirement when flying the POW flag on the same pole. I commend the Post Office for displaying the POW flag with the reverence and remembrance of our Troops

  • Mr. Milsaps,

    I believe you are correct about "directly below" meaning no space. However, it's up to interpretation. Case in point, Air Force Instruction 34-1201 directs all Air Force and Space Force installations to display the POW far enough below the US flag so that the US will not touch it when there is no wind and the flag is at rest. Unfortunately, we do not have specific direction in any flag display guidance. The flags can be displayed with any gap in between since standardization does not exist.

    The POW flag is only for remembering those who were/are POWs or MIA.

    DM

• We receive small decorative American flags and Christian and state flags and MIA/POW flags should they all be included in the same retirement ceremony at our A.L. Post or can we dispose of the small flags and others some other way.

  • Mr. Burkholder,

    All flags, regardless of size, should be properly destroyed when no longer fit to display. Please include them in the retirement.

    DM

• Good afternoon! I’m so glad I stumbled upon this page! Where can I find the history of the Color Guard? I’ve been researching and can only find articles here and there, but nothing too official on Color Guard and it’s origin and how it’s evolved to today. Your knowledge is greatly appreciated!

  • Sir,

    I don't know that anyone has written of the origins and evolution of what we know today as the military color guard. I have written briefly on the subject but only since WWII.

    DM

• When flags are ordered half mast, what is the order the American flag, POW, and state? Do all 3 get raised? Are there days only the American and state are raised? I work in park services and want to make sure we are displaying the flags correctly when half mast.

  • Ma'am,

    When flags are displayed on separate poles, all flags are lowered to half. Other flags must be at the same level, not "slightly" (whatever individual guess that might be) lower.

    Foreign national flags, if present are not lowered. In this case however, all commonwealth flags would be lowered, if present.

    If any flag is displayed below the American on the same halyard, it is removed when the American is to be displayed at half.

    Flags are raised and then lowered to half-staff.

    DM

• Drill Master: I am a former Drill Sgt and commander of an elite Honor Guard. My question to you is this: when we post the military branch flags with the National colors,where does the POW/ MIA flag position. I have heard different protocols. Your input will be very appreciated! Thank you in advance. Drill Sgt Hensley Commander Black Tiger Honor Guard

  • Drill Sgt Hensley,

    The POW/MIA flag is always preposted (posted alone before the ceremony without any ceremony for its posting).

    It is helpful if it is posted near the missing man table (how many place settings, 1-7, is up to you). Posting it near the table, which is off on its own, creates a special place for both as a whole.

    If that is not possible, it is positioned at the far left (viewer's right, last) and if you post the colors for a ceremony, you would place the flags into the stands to its right. The same goes for a personal or positional color except that the POW is last most of the days of the year with the exception of six days each year. The six national observances are National POW/MIA Recognition Day (third Friday of September), Armed Forces Day, Memorial Day, Flag Day, Independence Day and Veterans Day.

    Let me know if you any further questions, I'm happy to help.

    DM

• Do uniform personnel ever salute the POW/MIA flag. Taps will be playing in the background as the flag is raised to half staff.

  • Mr. Hansard,

    Taps is NEVER sounded when the American flag is raised to half-staff. It is only sounded for a funeral or memorial service and at lights out.

    Only the Star-Spangled Banner is played or sung or the bugle call To The Color is sounded while raising the flag to full truck or half-staff. That is the standard and we should not attempt to make the ceremony any more "emotionaler".

    The POW/MIA flag is not raised to half-staff to music. That is an honor only for our national standard. After the American flag is at half, other flags can be raised in sequence or all together on separate poles.

    We do not salute any other flag except the American flag.

    DM

• When there is a color guard for a patriotic program (honoring 9/11, PO/MIA) we have been told it is not necessary for them to present the American flag, as there is going to be a 40 foot American flag on the field. Is this considered correct?

  • Ms. Koepp,

    Every color guard, regardless of the ceremony, must carry the American flag at a minimum.
    There seems to be this idea that if an American flag is present, then no others should be in the vicinity. This is simply not true.
    Coincidentally, carrying the American flag flat is against the Flag Code.
    Your color guard should present the American flag along with other appropriate flags for the occasion (state, city, county, organizational).
    The POW/MIA flag is not carried by military color guards and should not be carried by veteran and other teams either.

    DM

• Having 3 adjacent flagpoles with the American on the left, the State Flag in the middle, and the City Flag on the far right, I have this question. On National POW/MIA Recognition Day is it proper protocol to just take down the State Flag, replace it with the POW Flag, then take down the City Flag and replace it with the State Flag?
  Or
  Do all flags come down starting with the City Flag, State Flag and last the American Flag, and then hoist first the American Flag, the POW Flag, and finally the State Flag.

  • Mr. Garrity,

    Great questions.

    You can fly the POW/MIA flag directly underneath on the same halyard as the American flag at any time of the year. This would alleviate any issue with moving your state and city flags.

    If you still wish to fly the POW on a separate pole, the POW would be in the center and the state flag would replace the city flag on the last pole.

    The American flag is hoisted first and lowered last.

    Please let me know if you have any further questions.

    DM

    • DrillMaster;

      All three flags flown 24x7 on the 3 staffs. My question is when I take down the State and City Flags to arrange for the POW Flag, can the American Flag remain up during the change, or must all flags come down before making the change?

      • Mr. Garrity,

        Thank you for your great question.

        You do not have to take all of the flags down. If I may make a suggestion, you can fly the POW under the American 24x7 and then never have to change the flag arrangement.

        DM

        • DrillMaster;

          I like your solution to my question, but we only have a clasps for a single flag at each staff, no place to connect multiple grommets.

          Thanks for clarifying the question of taking all flags down, I wanted to understand the protocol before National POW/MIA Day this month.

          Much Appreciated!!
          James Garrity