Flags to fly at half-staff in memory of 9-11

AUGUSTA – The Stars and Stripes will be in the spotlight as people across the nation pause Wednesday to remember the victims of the tragic events last Sept. 11.

Here in Maine, Gov. Angus King has directed that flags across the state be flown at half-staff as a show of respect for the victims and their families.

The governor also has asked that churches, libraries and other buildings that have bells ring them at 8:46 a.m., 9:03 a.m., 9:43 a.m. and 10:10 a.m. Wednesday. Those four times mark exactly the moments when the airplane crashes occurred last Sept. 11.

In their desire to show their patriotism, however, some people and groups inadvertently have displayed their U.S. flags improperly. The federal code, U.S. Code, Title 36, Chapter 10, is the guide for all handling and display of the Stars and Stripes. Following are basic guidelines for the display and use of the flag by civilians:

. While it is the custom to display the flag from sunrise to sunset only and on stationary flagstaffs in the open, the flag may be displayed around the clock if property lit at night.

. The flag should not be displayed in inclement weather, unless it is an all-weather flag.

. No other flag or pennant should be placed above or, if on the same level, to the right of the U.S. flag. (That means from the flag’s own right, which means the observer’s left.)

. When a number of flags are grouped and displayed from staffs, the U.S. flag should be at the center and at the highest point of the group.

. When the U.S. flag is flown on the same halyard with other flags, it should always be at the top.

. When flags are flown from adjacent staffs, the U.S. flag should be hoisted first and lowered last. No other flag may be placed above the U.S. flag or to the U.S. flag’s own right.

. When the U.S. flag is displayed from a staff that projects horizontally or at an angle from a window sill, balcony or building front, the union (or blue field) should be placed at the peak of the pole (unless the flag is at half-staff). U.S. flags suspended over a sidewalk from a rope extending from a house to a pole should be hoisted out union first from the building.

. The union of U.S. flags displayed horizontally or vertically against a wall should be uppermost and to the flag’s own right. The same goes for U.S. flags displayed in a window, with the union to the left of the observer in the street.

. When the U.S. flag is displayed over the middle of the street, it should hang vertically, with the union to the north in an east-west street and to the east in a north-south street.

. A U.S. flag displayed flat behind a speaker’s platform should be placed above and behind the speaker.

. When displayed from a staff in a church or public auditorium, the U.S. flag should hold the position of prominence, in advance of the audience, and in the position of honor at the clergy or speaker’s right as he or she faces the audience. Any other flag should be placed on the speaker or clergy person’s left (or to the audience’s right).

. When the flag is flown at half-staff, as will be the case on Wednesday, it should be hoisted to the top for an instant and the lowered to the half-staff position. It should be raised back to the peak before it is lowered for the day.