Just a few weeks ago, USPS issued A Flag for All Seasons Forever® stamps. These four stamps show the U.S. flag at full staff in each season of the year, but did you know there’s a lot more ceremony to respecting Old Glory than making sure she can withstand the elements? In preparation for Flag Day (which is this Friday), we did a little research.
The National Flag Code—the basis for a 1942 federal law that provides specific rules for the use and display of the flag—includes a long list of guidelines for how citizens should show their respect for the Stars and Stripes. Several of these rules are well-known to most, but some are more obscure. Here are five things you may not know about handling the flag:
- The flag should never be used as a covering for a ceiling.
- The flag should never be displayed with the union down, expect as a signal of dire distress in instances of extreme danger to life or property.
- The flag should never be used for advertising purposes in any manner whatsoever.
- No part of the flag should ever be used as a costume or athletic uniform (except in the case of military personnel, firefighters, and police officers).
- The flag, when it is in such condition that it is no longer a fitting emblem for display, should be destroyed in a dignified way, preferably by burning.
Check out the United States Code for more information about the proper ways to display the Stars and Stripes in every season.
Each envelope in this set features a different, affixed A Flag For All Seasons (Forever®) stamp and an official First Day of Issue color postmark. Click the image for details.
A Flag for All Seasons Forever® stamps are currently available online and in Post Offices nationwide. You can also order them by calling 800-STAMP24 (800-782-6724).
USPS Stamp of Approval 