[EmailPoster]

Is it true that flying the american flag upside down is a type of...

Originally Posted by Rdhdmom57

Is it true that flying the AMerican flag upside down is a type of SOS that
those military are in need of help?

Betty Hall

[ArmyWife]

Flying the American flag upside down is indeed a type of SOS signal. Section 8a of the United States Flag Code states, "The flag should never be displayed with the union down, except as a signal of dire distress in instances of extreme danger to life or property."

[ArmyWife]

Originally Posted by EmailPoster

Is it true that flying the american flag upside down is a type of...

According to Section 8a of the United States Flag Code, "The flag should never be displayed with the union down, except as a signal of dire distress in instances of extreme danger to life or property."

[jproffitt10]

Originally Posted by EmailPoster

Is it true that flying the american flag upside down is a type of...

Ms. Hall,

Flying the American flag upside down is traditionally considered a sign of distress, as it is with all national flags. The signal is one that was used primarily in past centuries (pre-1900s), on the high seas by military and merchant marine vessels alike. While the U.S. Flag Code does permit flying the flag with the union down, it specifies only "...as a signal of dire distress in instances of extreme danger to life or property."

In recent times some have interpreted this in a much broader manner and have come to use it as a political statement, instead of a true S.O.S., which it was originally intended for.

[Lucy]

Yes. According to the US Flag Code, the US flag should only be flown upside down as a signal of distress when there is an extreme danger to life or property.

Lucy