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There’s nothing more beautiful than seeing an American flag flying proudly. The question is how do you ensure it retains its vibrancy and longevity? If you’re not choosing the right material for your flag, it can quickly start fraying and tearing.

We fly our flags at half-staff in order to show respect for those who have given their lives for the country, defending our land and our freedoms. Therefore, let’s remind ourselves of the dates when we should fly the flag half-staff for the whole day, and when for until noon.

Throughout history, several nations have woven design elements of the American flag into their own national flag designs. Playwright Oscar Wilde once said that "imitation is the most sincerest form of flattery.” The red, white and blue colors, the horizontal stripes, and the white stars on a blue field are design elements of our American flag - first adopted by our Continental Congress - that show up or influence official flags in countries around the world. As you review the following national flag designs, see if you agree that some of these international flags share attributes with the stars and stripes of "Old Glory," our revered U.S. flag.

Written by Ted Seward, the Vice President of Sales and Marketing of Carrot-Top Industries, Inc. Ted shares what the U.S. flag and being an American means to him. You may submit your favorite American flag display photos and stories to qualify to win a flag set in June 2021 at: /one-country-one-flag

Written by Stephen Hathaway, the COO of Carrot-Top Industries, Inc. Stephen shares what the U.S. flag and being an American means to him. You may submit your favorite American flag display photos and stories to qualify to win a flag set in June 2021 at: /one-country-one-flag

Written by Liz Morris, the CEO of Carrot-Top Industries, Inc. Liz shares what the U.S. flag and being an American means to her. You may submit your favorite American flag display photos and stories to qualify to win a flag set in June 2021 at: /one-country-one-flag

Written by Harriett Williams, administrative assistant with the Americus Fire & Emergency Services in Americus, Ga. Williams provided the photos and story in this blog as part of her “One Country. One Flag.” April submission about what the U.S. flag and being an American means to her department. She was the April winner of our deluxe Beacon® U.S. flag set. You may submit your favorite American flag display photos and stories to qualify to win a flag set in May 2021 or June 2021 at: /one-country-one-flag

Much like drivers must follow a series of universally-agreed-upon rules and regulations when driving a vehicle, so must businesses and individuals follow a series of flag etiquette rules when displaying an American flag. Below is a guide to American flag etiquette that answers many frequently asked questions regarding the placement and the display of the American flag:

As children, we are taught to respect our elders – everyone from parents and grandparents to aunts, uncles, teachers and neighbors. Much like these all-important friends and family members, Americans have another 237-year-old elder in their midst that also commands honor and respect: the American flag. While nationwide respect for the American flag has been almost universal since its creation in 1777, those rules of respect were not recorded as law until 165 years later. In 1942, Congress adopted the U.S. Flag Code to provide guidance for both the handling and the display of the U.S. flag. Although penalties are not issued for failure to follow the U.S. Flag Code, it is widely recognized as the authority on U.S. flag etiquette. As prescribed by the U.S. Flag Code, here are 12 guidelines for honorably handling and displaying the American flag:

As Americans, we enjoy reading lists such as the Consumer Reports Best Products list, New York Times Best Sellers list and Billboard’s Hot 100 list.Perhaps our attraction to these lists is that they give us insights into products and services valued by others. After all, in a free enterprise system that bombards us with choices, ranked lists help us to quickly identify “the best of the best” products and services so we can narrow the selection field. Below is a list of Carrot-Top Industries’ most popular products. As you review this list, do you see any “must-have” flag-related products that you would like to add to either your shopping cart or wish list?

Much like when considering the purchase of a new vehicle, shopping for a new flagpole requires research, planning and forethought. To simplify the process, below is a five-step guide to help you decide which flagpole best meets the needs of your environment and the desired “look” of your flag display.

Just as the U.S. military forces conduct themselves in an orderly fashion, so too does a military flag display follow a strict set of rules and order. When flags from each military branch are carried in a horizontal line formation during a parade or flown from a five-flagpole display, the flags must be flown in a certain order. The proper military flag order was prescribed on October 31, 1977, by the U.S. Department of Defense Directive 1005.8. It states that from left to right, the prescribed peacetime military branch flag order is: Army, Marine Corps, Navy, Air Force and Coast Guard.

The History Behind the Tennessee Flag Design

The History Behind the Florida State Flag Design

The History Behind the Ohio State Flag Design

With its 13 stripes, its 50 stars and its red, white and blue color scheme, the American flag is an iconic symbol of freedom, unity and patriotism. While the basic design elements of the U.S. flag have remained constant since its inception, there have been 27 different versions of the American flag during its 244-year history, with the majority of those changes accounting for stars being added to the flag’s blue field as new states were added to the Union.

Emma Kitchin, of Newland, N.C., is the recipient of the Spring 2021 Beacon® Scholarship for Rural America, a scholarship that was introduced by Carrot-Top Industries in 2018. We received applications from states across the country, including New Jersey, Tennessee, Michigan, Arizona and California. Kitchin is a shining example of community patriotism that continues to thrive in rural towns today.

Every year on February 23, we recall the anniversary of U.S. military service members raising the American flag on the Japanese island of Iwo Jima during World War II. The U.S. military sought occupation of Iwo Jima because it was strategically located about 750 miles southeast of the main island of Japan and could be used as an aircraft base for launching air raids on Japan’s main island.