Flag Flying Holidays

CUSTOMARY FLAG FLYING DAYS

The U.S. flag can be flown every day, from sunrise to sunset, but is required to be flown on the customary days listed in the calendar below to show patriotism, weather permitting. There are also certain days that the POW/MIA flag is customarily flown. You can always fly your U.S. flag all day and night, but it must be properly illuminated per the U.S. Flag Code. All dates that are burgundy in color represent the Customary Flag Flying Days.

As of November 7, 2019, the National POW/MIA Flag Act was signed into law and requires the POW/MIA flag to be displayed on all days that the flag of the United States is displayed on certain federal buildings. The National POW/MIA Flag Act only applies to certain federal buildings including the: White House, U.S. Capitol, Pentagon and Department of Veterans Affairs headquarters along with every U.S. Post Office across the country. The flag will also be required to fly at all major U.S. military installations, every national cemetery and well-known war-related sites such as the World War II Memorial and the Vietnam Veterans Memorial.

OTHER SPECIAL FLAG FLYING DAYS

Some dates are considered Special Flag Flying Days. You are not required to fly your U.S. flag on these days, but many people do. All dates that are blue in color represent the Special Flag Flying Days.

Use our flag flying icons below to help you know when to fly your U.S. flag half-staff. There are also icons to show you the days that the POW/MIA flag should be flown at full-staff and the days it needs to be flown at half-staff.

FLAG FLYING DAYS FOR YOUR STATE FLAG

You can fly your state flag every day of the year, from sunrise to sundown, if you would like. You can also choose to only fly your state flag on your state's birthday and/or on state holidays. The state's birthday is the date the state became a part of the Federal Government. Below is a list of each state's birthday with the state's order number when it officially became part of the United States.

How Long Should I Fly the Flag at Half-Staff?

The President may order the flag to be flown at half-mast, or half-staff, to mark the death of other officials, former officials, or foreign dignitaries. In addition to these occasions, the president may also order half-staff display of the flag after other tragic events. When a half-staff order is issued, it will state when and how long the American flag or any state flag should be flown at half-staff. In any event, the flag should be briskly run up to the top of the staff before being lowered slowly to the half-mast position.

During half-staff flag flying days, all flags should be lowered as stated. For flagpoles with multiple flags, remove any additional flags below the American flag that are suspended at or below the cleat on your flagpole for the duration of the half-staff order. This will eliminate the chance that one of your flags will be dishonored by touching the ground.

The flag is to be flown at half-staff at all federal buildings, grounds, and naval vessels in the Washington, D.C. area on the day and day after the death of a United States senator, representative, territorial delegate, or the resident commissioner from the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico. It should also be flown at half-staff on all federal facilities in the state, congressional district, territory, or commonwealth of these officials.

Click here for more information on Presidential Proclamations.

If Your Flag Can't Fly at Half-Staff

If your flag cannot be lowered, such as a flag on a home, The American Legion says an acceptable alternative is to attach a black ribbon on top of the flag. The ribbon should be the same width as a stripe on the flag and the same length as the flag. In the case of wall-mounted flags, three mourning bows should be attached to the top edge of the flag, one at each corner, and one in the center.

POW/MIA Recognition Day

Congress designated the third Friday of September as National POW/MIA Recognition Day and ordered prominent display of the POW/MIA flag on this day and several other national observances, including Armed Forces Day, Memorial Day, Flag Day, Independence Day, and Veterans Day. The 1998 Defense Authorization Act (P.L. 105- 85) mandates that on these national observances, the POW/MIA flag is to be flown over the White House, the U.S. Capitol, the Korean and Vietnam Veterans War Memorials, the offices of the Secretaries of State, Defense and Veterans Affairs, offices of the Director of the Selective Service System, every major military installation (as directed by the Secretary of Defense), every post office, and all Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Medical Centers and national cemeteries. The act also directs VA Medical Centers to fly the POW/MIA flag on any day on which the flag of the United States is displayed.

Click here for more information on POW/MIA Recognition Day.

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