(Nexstar) – Since its inception, Memorial Day has had a distinct mission: to honor those who lost their lives in American wars. Unlike many other holidays, it also comes with specific guidelines regarding the display of the American flag.
The foundation for this holiday traces back to the late 1800s, when Decoration Day was established just three years after the Civil War ended. It was meant to provide a designated day for people to adorn the graves of fallen soldiers with flowers. The US Veterans Affairs Bureau notes that Decoration Day was eventually observed on May 30th.
A short time later, the holiday was rebranded as Memorial Day.
While several locations claim ties to the origins of the holiday, it was Waterloo, New York, which received official recognition from Congress and President Lyndon Johnson in 1966. As is the case now, this meant that businesses would be closed on that day.
Initially, Memorial Day only commemorated those who died in the Civil War; however, it later expanded to honor all American military casualties following World War I. In 1971, Congress designated the last Monday in May as the official date for Memorial Day, making it a nationwide holiday.
Throughout its evolution, the U.S. flag has remained a focal point for observance and respect. According to the US Code, there are particular guidelines for displaying the flag on Memorial Day, including:
- The flag should be flown at half-staff from sunrise until noon.
- At noon, it should be raised fully to the top of the staff.
- It must remain at full staff until sunset.
There are also other holidays when flags are required to fly at half-staff all day, such as Peace Officers’ Memorial Day and Patriot Day, among others. Additionally, orders to lower the flag may be issued to honor key figures after their passing, which has recently occurred for individuals like Pope Francis and former President Jimmy Carter.
Regardless of whether the flag is at half-staff or full, it must be displayed from sunrise to sunset unless it’s illuminated at night, in which case it can remain raised. When hanging the flag, it’s essential that the union, or stars, is positioned in the upper left corner. This also applies to flags displayed in windows—viewed from outside, the union should still appear in the upper left corner.
In very specific scenarios, such as naval church services, a church pennant may be displayed above the U.S. flag, but this is an exception rather than the norm.
