Flag etiquette and folding

The Pledge of Allegiance

Stand facing the flag. Scouts in uniform give the Scout salute; otherwise, place your right hand over your heart and take off your hat.

• Pledge allegiance

  Promise to be loyal.

• Republic

  A country where the people choose the leaders who make its laws.

• Indivisible

  It can't be split apart; the states stay together as one nation.

• Liberty and justice for all

  The goal of freedom and fair treatment for every person — something each citizen helps work toward.

Showing respect for the flag

• Salute

  When the flag is raised, lowered, or passes by, and during the Pledge and the national anthem, face it and salute until it's done.

• When it flies

  From sunrise to sunset. It can fly at night only if it's lit, and in bad weather only if it's an all-weather flag.

• Off the ground

  Never let the flag touch the ground, the floor, or anything beneath it.

• Raising and lowering

  Raise the flag briskly. Lower it slowly, with ceremony, and gather it so it doesn't touch the ground.

• Half-staff

  Raise the flag to the top for a moment, then lower it to the halfway point. Before taking it down for the day, raise it to the top again first.

• Place of honor

  With other flags or on a stage, the U.S. flag goes on its own right — the audience's left. When carried with other flags, it's on the marching right or in front at the center.

• On a wall

  Hung flat, either way up, the blue field goes at the top and on the flag's own right — the left as you look at it.

• Retiring a worn flag

  When a flag is too worn to fly, it's retired with dignity, usually by burning in a respectful ceremony. Many Scout units hold flag retirement ceremonies.

Folding the flag

It takes two people. Hold the flag waist-high and flat between you, and keep it off the ground the whole time.

1. 1

   Step 1: Fold it in half the long way

   Fold the striped bottom half up over the blue field, matching the edges.

2. 2

   Step 2: Fold it in half the long way again

   Fold it lengthwise again, so the blue field ends up on the outside.

3. 3

   Step 3: Start a triangle at the striped end

   At the striped end, fold one corner over to the opposite edge to make a triangle.

4. 4

   Step 4: Keep folding triangles

   Fold the triangle over and over along the strip, toward the blue field, keeping the edges straight.

5. 5

   Step 5: Tuck in the end

   When only a little is left, tuck it into the pocket of the folds. Only the blue field with its stars shows.

Flag ceremonies

Many meetings open and close with a flag ceremony. A color guard of two or more Scouts carries and posts the flag while everyone else stands. Your unit may use different words, but an opening often goes like this:

1. 1

   Attention

   The leader calls the group to attention, and everyone stands quietly.

2. 2

   Color guard, advance

   The color guard carries the flag forward and stops facing the group.

3. 3

   Salute and Pledge

   Everyone salutes and says the Pledge of Allegiance together, then ends the salute.

4. 4

   Post the colors

   The color guard places the flag in its stand, salutes, and is dismissed.