| Displaying the U.S. Flag
It is customary to display the
U.S. flag from sunrise to sunset.
If the flag is properly
illuminated,
it may be displayed 24 hours.
In a horizontal or a vertical
position, the
union ( blue field
with 50 stars) should be at
the top and to the right of an
observers' left.
When the flag is displayed
with the union
down, the flag
becomes a distress signal.
The U.S. Flag:
1. should never touch anything below it.
2. should not be carried
horizontally. ( When displayed
to be viewed form either
side, the union is to the north
on an east-west street, and to
the east on a north-south street.)
3.should not be fasted in such
a manner as to
spoil or damage it.
4. should not place any
attachment, object,
or markings
on the flag.
5. do not use to hold anything or
make
apparel such as clothing,
bedding or drapery.
Folding the Flag
To fold, first fold lengthwise
with the stripes half over the
union; repeat folds
until
the union is on the
outside. Begin at the lower
right, fold into right angles,
making triangles.
Continue
with triangle folds until the
union is visible. Then tuck
in the white end.
For ceremonies, it takes
two people,
since the flag
is never to touch the ground.
Both people should hold out
the flag waist-high with the
surface parallel to the ground.
Begin
by folding in half
lengthwise, bringing the striped
lower section over the union.
Fold again,
bringing the union
to the outside. Start the
triangular fold with the
striped corner of the
folded edge
to meet the open edge. Turn
the
outer point inward to
start a second triangle.
Continue folding this way,
triangle over triangle, bringing
the red and white stripes
into union.
With the
remaining flap, make a
final triangleand tuck the
white flap into the top left corner.
When the flag is completely
folded, only the
union should
be visible, symbolizing that
the
day's light has vanished
into the darkness if night. |
Caring For Our Flag
Tips for enjoying a new U.S. flag:
1. Exterior flags need to be labeled for
out of doors use.
2. Continued exposure to elements
such as wind, snow, hot sun and
rain will cause damage.
3. Clean regularly. Outdoor flags
can be hand washed with mild soap.
Then, rinses and laid out to dry.
4. Avoid placing the flag near objects
that can tear or snag.
The National Flag
Foundation
presents Flag Etiquette in detail
on:
www.usflags.org
The U.S. Constitution
After the American Revolution, the thirteen
colonies were independent states; there was no national form of governing. In
the summer of 787, a group of formidable leaders gathered in Philadelphia at a
Constitutional Convention. After much debate, fifty-four men met in secret
to write what is now THE CONSTITUTION OF THE UNITED STATES,
The introduction to the U.S. Constitution is
called "The Permeable". Its
main
body focuses on
governing by representation and the division of power.
The framers signed this brief document on September 17, 1787. Their next step
was obtaining approval from each of the thirteen states which took until
December, 1788.
A few facts of
interest are:
-
Our Constitution has only
fours sheets of paper about 28" X 23";
-
It hand
written with misspelled words & grammar errors;
-
The
original
document is on display at the National Archives in Washington,
-
D.C. It is
so valuable that it is housed in a bullet-proof case with helium and water
added to preserve the paper;
-
It is the
oldest and shortest national constitution in the world.
For more
information, facts and stories about our U.S. Constitution log on:
www.archives.org
www.constitutioncenter.org
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