Rituals Of The American Flag
The American nation follows practices to give respect to their flag, the mark of the land of brave men who paid endless sacrifices for this land, and the land of success. These rituals are about the American flag, and then these are related to honor and dignity.
The State laws protect the etiquette and the rituals of the American flag. For the nation, there is not strict implementation up to some extent. The country practices these rituals to pay homage to the flag, the symbol of their motherland.
Some of the commonly practiced rituals of the American flag are the following:
Half-Staff Mast Rituals Of The American Flag
A ritual of national remembrance of the country's deceased or mourning indication half-staff mast of the American flag. Half-staff mast flag displayed from morning to noon on a memorable day in America.
Half-staff means to position the flag between the top and the bottom of the flags' staff. There are some rituals for the half-staff of the American flag, which are the following:
- Half-staff mast flag displayed on all American territories and all federal buildings for 30 days in the dilemma of the death of the present time or the United States of America's former president.
- In the dilemma of the death of a vice president, chief justice or retired chief justice and speaker of the House of Representative, an American flag should be half-mast flown on all federal buildings of the United States of America for ten days.
- Half-staff mast American flag waves on the death day and the day after the death, on all the federal buildings, Washington's naval vessel, on the death of a senator, territorial delegator, or the representative of the United States of America.
- The American flag is half-staff mast flown, from the death day to the internment for the governor of the state's territory or the possession.
- It is under the president's authority to call for a half-staff mast in the dilemma of any tragic event, or the death of federal or foreign dignitaries.
- The flag first touches the staff and then is flown half-staff mast regarding the rituals.
National Anthem Rituals Of American Flag
The national anthem is a patriotic song that shows the American core values, freedom. The nation follows rituals to pay homage to the flag, which is their identification in the world.
Some of the rituals of the American flag for the national anthem are the following:
- These rituals include standing up when you listen to the national anthem.
- If there is a flag in front of a person, then look at the flag. If the flag is passing by you, then wait until it passes from your front-side.
- At the first note of the national anthem, the military has to salute the American flag, and the nation has to keep their right hand on their heart.
- When the national anthem is playing, face the flag, remove the headdress, and hold it in the left hand.
Soldier Funeral Rituals Of American Flag
The American flag's most appreciated rituals are using it in the traditions and practices of the soldier and policeman funeral.
From the folding of the flag to the taps’ sounding, there are several rituals to give respect to a deceased. These rituals are the following:
- American flag honors the funeral of the militant, regarding their service for the country.
- For the soldier's funeral, the American flag is draped in a closed casket manner and placed in such a way that the union blue part is at the head and on the left shoulder of the deceased.
- After playing the taps, the American flag should fold into the symbolic tri-cornered pattern.
- Give respect to the recipient of the flag by giving a folded flag and leaning towards the recipient.
- The American flag should never touch the ground, even not lower into the grave.
- One can never use it for covering the statue or monument of a deceased soldier.
These rituals pay honor by half-staff mast or by keeping the flag on the military funerals. The traditions of the American flag symbolizes the dignity and the strength of the United States of America.