Marching band and drum corps directors, color guard instructors, and flag printing companies have a very big responsibility to not violate Title 4 of the US Code, the Flag Code.
Why We Carry Flagstaffs at the Same Level
Nothing magical happens when the staffs are lifted from the marching surface that requires the American flag/color to be carried higher. Let me restate that. We do not carry the American flag higher than others flags except when two physical limitations are met.
Reader’s Digest, you are Partially Wrong
Andy Simmons wrote an article entitled, 12 Flag Etiquette Mistakes You Didn’t Realize You Were Making. He does a good job of identifying 9 subjects but has no idea about three of them.
Olympic Flag Protocol
For international flag protocol, this is accepted. This image is from the International Olympic Committee when the organization announced the USA would have the 2034 Olympic games in Salt Lake City, UT. I am not a fan of this in the least. The Olympic flag is placed to the right of national flags as far as the IOC is concerned. …
Salutes for Color Bearers
PGR members line funeral processions and are usually holding flags on makeshift staffs. Nothing wrong with that at all. Specifically, some members want to give more and possibly feel that “just” standing in line with a flagstaff in the right hand isn’t enough. Many members will now hold the staff in the left hand and render some type of salute.
Consideration of Color Bearer Height and Waist Level is Mandatory
It boggles my mind that harness socket height is rarely considered. It’s time members of a color guard were made aware of the requirement. MCO 5060.20 states that colors are carried at the same level. If that is not possible, the national colors can be minimally higher but NEVER lower. TC 3-21.5 states colors are carried at the same level/height.
The History of Fringe
Theories abound about the flag, the fringe, the finial, and even the direction the flag is displayed. It’s a bit ridiculous. Having said that, there may be some tiny bit of truth to admiralty law being represented by fringe, maybe. Still, knowledge of history is going to be our friend and help us understand what fantasy is and what is truth. Let’s start here.
A Flag is a Flag is a Flag – The DrillMaster Study
With apologies to Gertrude Stein (a Rose is Rose), a flag is not a flag, which is also not a flag, necessarily. Let’s wade through what flags are and are not.
The Redundancy of State Orders for Half-Staff Flags: A Clarification for Governors
When the President of the United States orders the American flag to be flown at half-staff, it serves as a directive for federal buildings and grounds across the nation. This article aims to clarify for state governors the redundancy of issuing separate orders for the same purpose.
The North Andover, MA Debacle
Absent-minded actions are leading to unnecessary anger and hostility. Nice job. If you had pulled your heads out of your virtue signaling backsides for a minute and actually read the Flag Code, you would have seen, in black and white, wording that explains national flags are flown from separate poles only!