Seattle Sea Scout Fleet

of the Chief Seattle Council

Boy Scouts of America

Chief Seattle Council, BSA

National Sea Scouts

Boy Scouts of America

United States Coast Guard

Ordinary Requirement #2 - Emblems & Customs

Requirement 2:

Give a brief history of the U.S. flag, and
show when to fly it and how to hoist, lower, fold, display, and salute it.

History of the U.S. Flag

The Queen Anne Flag

The Queen Anne Flag waved over the 13 American Colonies from 1707 to the Revolution.

The Grand Union Flag

Regarded as the true "first flag" of our fledgling nation.
It consists of a field of thirteen stripes, just as our flag today has, combined with the King's Colors flag.
It served as the flag of the Revolution until it was replaced by the Stars and Stripes in a declaration of the Continental Congress on June 14, 1777.

The Star Spangled Banner

Commissioned by Major George Armistead, the commander of Fort McHenry in Baltimore Harbor as preparation for an impending British attack.
The commission went to Mary Young Pickersgill who, with the help of her daughter, Caroline, completed the huge, 30' by 42' flag.
The British finally attacked Fort McHenry on September 13, 1814, firing as many as 1800 high trajectory shells at the fort throughout that day and night.
The British failed in their attempt leaving the United States of America a free nation.

The Civil War Flag

The War Between the States began in April of 1861 and on July 4th, Kansas was officially admitted to the Union and a new flag was adopted bearing 34 stars.
Since there was no official pattern of stars prescribed, various imaginative examples exist, however, this flag was viewed as the standard version.

The Navy Jack

Some controversy exists among historians as to whether the First Navy Jack was actually used as a standard of the Continental navy.

The Ensign

Executive Order of President Eisenhower dated August 21, 1959 - provided for the arrangement of the stars in nine rows of stars staggered horizon tally and eleven rows of stars staggered vertically.

The only flag NEVER flown on a Sea Scout Ship is the United States Yacht Ensign.

The U.S. Yacht Ensign

Flag Etiquette

When to Fly the U.S. Flag

The Flag of the United States should be flown every day when the weather permits, but especially on National and State Holidays.

Hoisting the US Flag

Two Sea Scouts are needed to hoist the flag correctly.
One scout holds the flag to prevent it from touching the ground.
The other scout attaches the line and raises the flag keeping it close to the pole by keeping the line taut.
When the flag has left the bearer’s arms, he steps back and comes to salute.
Hoist it briskly in the morning, but no earlier than sunrise.

Lowering the US Flag

Lowering of the flag is done the same as hoisting, except:

The flag is lowered slowly in the evening, but not later than sunset.
The flag bearer, catches the flag and unfastens it.

The United States Flag During Mourning

To indicate mourning, display the flag at half staff.
Hoist it to the peak first and thenlower it to half staff.
When you are ready to take itdown, raise it to the peak before lowering it.

Folding The United States Flag

To properly fold the Flag, begin by holding it waist-high with another person so that its surface is parallel to the ground.
Fold the lower half of the stripe section lengthwise over the field of stars, holding the bottom and top edges securely.
Fold the flag again lengthwise with the blue field on the outside.
Make a triangular fold by bringing the striped corner of the folded edge to meet the open (top) edge of the flag.
Turn the outer (end) point inward, parallel to the open edge, to form a second triangle.
The triangular folding is continued until the entire length of the flag is folded in this manner.
When the flag is completely folded, only a triangular blue field of stars should be visible. A properly folded United States Ensign will have thriteen (13) folds.

U.S. Flag - How to Display

The U.S. flag should occupy a place of prominence when being displayed.
No other flags displayed with it should be larger or hung higher than the U.S. flag.
The U.S. flag should not be allowed to touch the ground, nor should it be dipped to any other flag, person or object.

Displaying the Flag Outdoors

When the flag is displayed from a staff projecting from a window, balcony, or a building, the union should be at the peak of the staff unless the flag is at half staff.
When it is displayed from the same flagpole with another flag - of a state, community, society or Scout unit - the flag of the United States must always be at the top

Except that the church pennant may be flown above the flag during church services for Navy personnel when conducted by a Naval chaplain on a ship at sea.

When the flag is displayed over a street, it should be hung vertically, with the union to the north or east. If the flag is suspended over a sidewalk, the flag's union should be farthest from the building.
When flown with the national banner of other countries:

Each flag must be displayed from a separate pole of the same height.
Each flag should be the same size.
They should be raised and lowered simultaneously.
The flag of one nation may not be displayed above that of another nation.

When flown with flags of states, communities, or societies on separate flag poles which are of the same height and in a straight line, the flag of the United States is always placed in the position of honor - to its own right.
The other flags may be smaller but none may be larger.
No other flag ever should be placed above it.
The flag of the United States is always the first flag raised and the last to be lowered.

Displaying the Flag Indoors

The flag is accorded the place of honor, always positioned to its own right.

Place it to the right of the speaker or staging area or sanctuary.
Other flags should be to the left.

The flag of the United States of America should be at the center and at the highest point of the group when a number of flags of states, localities, or societies are grouped for display.
When one flag is used with the flag of the United States of America and the staffs are crossed, the flag of the United States is placed on its own right with its staff in front of the other flag.
When displaying the flag against a wall, vertically or horizontally, the flag's union (stars) should be at the top, to the flag's own right, and to the observer's left.

U.S. Flag - The Salute

To salute, all persons come to attention.

Those in uniform give the appropriate formal salute.
Citizens not in uniform salute by placing their right hand over the heart and men with head cover should remove it and hold it to left shoulder, hand over the heart.
Members of organizations in formation salute upon command of the person in charge.