How long should a flag last?

There is no definite answer to this question.  How long any flag will last depends on the weather, its location, airborne contamination and how often you fly your flag.  Our flags are manufactured to give maximum service in return for reasonable care and prudent use.  Remember, no two flags receive identical wear.  Because weather conditions vary, wearing conditions vary and consequently, the life of each flag is different. Remember, your flag is a piece of cloth that works very, very hard. Throughout its lifetime your flag shakes, trembles, drapes, snaps, chafes, bakes, freezes, ripples, flutters, furls, twists, flaps, strains, flies, unfurls and hangs!  Is it any wonder that a flag that flies continuously needs replacing two or three times a year? Wind, water, sun and carelessness are the major enemies of a flag.  No one can control the weather but you can take some important steps to lengthen the life of your flag.  Occasionally washing your flag in warm detergent water will prevent pollutants and dirt from weakening the fabric. Always let your flag dry thoroughly before storing it to prevent mildew or color transfer.  Always keep your flagpole as clean as possible and move your pole if your flag does not have adequate room to fly unobstructed.

Proper Display of the US Flag

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 oberver in the street.

The Proper Display of all Flags

As the globe continues to shrink, the display of foreign flags grows every day. Governmental bodies, hotels, educational institutions, and the business community are using foreign flags to welcome their foreign guests. Because of this increased usage, we provide this basic information to help you display flags in a proper and dignified manner.

1.) The improper use and display of a U.S. flag and flags of your visitors is worse than no display at all.

2.) When the flags of two or more nations are flown together, each flag should be displayed from a separate pole of the same height, and each flag should be the same size. In time of peace, international custom forbids the display of the flag of one nation above that of another nation. Flying the flags of two nations on the same pole is a sign of wartime victory. It will be interpreted as a serious insult. An alternative to an outdoor flag display, where flagpoles are limited, is to post the flags in your reception area and/or conference room.

3.) There is not greater insult than to fly a flag upside down. A Stars & Stripes Flag Company makes it easy to tell which end is up and down because our label is always displayed at the top of the flag.

4.) Within the United States, when the U.S.A. flag is flown with flags of other nations, the poles should be the same height and in a straight line. The U.S.A. flag is always placed in the position of honor, i.e. to its own right when facing away from the building, followed in alphabetical order by the other nation's flags. The U.S.A. flag is the first to be raised and the last to be lowered.

5.) When used on a speaker's platform, the flag, if displayed flat, should be displayed above and behind the speaker. When displayed from a staff in a church or public auditorium, the flag of the United States should be in advance of the audience, in the position of honor at the clergyman's or speaker's right as he faces the audience. Any other flag so displayed should be placed on the left of the clergyman.

6.) Never display the U.S. flag from a float except from a staff, or so suspended that its folds fall free as though staffed. Crepe streamers may be affixed to spearheads or flagstaffs in a parade only by order of the President of the United States.

7.) The U.S. flag should form a distinctive feature at the ceremony of unveiling a statue or monument, but should never be used as the covering for the statue or monument.

8.) Advertising signs should not be fastened to a staff or halyard from which the flag is shown.

9.) When the U.S. flag is used to cover a casket, it should be so placed that the union is at the head and over the left shoulder. The flag should not be lowered into the grave or allowed to touch the ground.

10.) The U.S. flag should never touch anything beneath it - ground, fire, water, or merchandise.

*Please Note: *Flag designs do change, and care must be taken to ensure that the flag you fly is correct and current. The most comprehensive source for this information is The Flag Research Center, Winchester, Massachusetts.

Introduction to Flags
Soccer, boy scouts, McDonald's, racing, advertising, sailing, pirates, countries, football, astronauts, explorers, armies, Greenpeace, gays and lesbians, states, the weather, provinces, political parties, etc. What do all of these things have in common? Flags.

Flags are everywhere. They are mainly associated with geographical regions, countries and nations, but if you look around you will find them as symbols of many other walks of life.

A flag is basically a piece of material that is flown from a mast or pole, but once you start adding coloring, designs and emblems to that piece of cloth you have a work of art.

The historical origin of flags dates back to around 1000 BC, when the Egyptians used primitive versions of flags - some were even made out of wood or metal. Flags were originally used for the purpose of identification or to signal to others. Although flags are still used for many of those reasons today, flags have also come to be used for much more.

Flags have also been important symbols on land as well as on sea. Ships started using flags at sea to signal to each other and to harbors, often to let them know they had an infectious or diseased crew aboard. Flags are still used today to let sailors know what weather conditions await at sea. The military also made use of flags to rally its troops. In military times, capturing an enemy's flag was considered an honorable seizure.

Although the most popular use of flags today is to identify the world's countries, the use of national flags didn't become commonplace until the 18th century. National flags are now used to identify each country and their symbolism.

When Mount Everest and the moon were conquered, and when new found lands were discovered, explorers would raise flags as signs of their being the first to tread these unchartered lands. Flags have also been used historically, many with negative consequences. For example, ancient pirates used flags decorated with the feared skull and crossbones emblem, and the Nazis used a flag decorated with a swastika.

Today, flags are still used to signify crucial events. For example, if you are offside in a soccer game, the linesman raises his flag, or when an auto race begins a flag is traditionally waved to start the race.

In fact, the numerous uses for flags and their examination have become so popular that the practice of 'vexillology', which means the academic study of flags, has been developed.

If you are interested in flags of any type there is a wealth of information available on the internet or at your local library or book shop.