How to Display the American Flag
The United States Flag Code provides detailed guidelines about how to display the American flag.
First: When to display the flag
Rain, snow or heavy winds mandate the use of an all-weather flag. Otherwise, the flag is displayed around the clock, provided that it always becomes visible with lighting during darkness. The most conservative schedule calls for displaying the flag only between sunrise and sunset.
Second: Using a staff connected to a building
The blue area with white stars on the flag is known as the "union." To fly an American flag from a staff which is connected to a building, the union rests at the top of the staff if the flag is not at half staff. The flagpole is pushed out of the building with the union side heading out first and secured at an angle upward toward the sky. For any staff, to fly the flag at half staff, first raise the flag to the top fully. Wait a moment. Then, lower the flag to half staff. Conversely, to lower the flag for the day, first raise it to full height. Then, lower it completely.
Third: Displaying the flag without a staff
Unlike using rope suspension along a staff, displaying without a staff requires letting folds in the flag fall away as it hangs perpendicular to the earth. For example, the flag may hang above a street from the midpoint of a rope suspended over the street, with the union facing east for east-west streets, or north for north-south streets.
Fourth: Displaying the flag from a vehicle.
Attach the flag to the right window, to the right fender or to the antenna.
Fifth: Multiple flags, speeches, churches, auditoriums and outdoor ceremonies
For two crossed staffs, the American flag is placed on the left falling to the outside, and its staff is in front. Facing a march of flags approaching head on, the American flag is again seen flying to the left. Facing a speaker, the audience sees the flag flat on the wall, behind and above the orator, with the union in the upper left. Alternatively, a staff on the speaker's right may hold the flag hanging down in front of the audience, as in a church. All other flags are displayed on the speaker's left side.