Hanging flag from Fire Deprtment Aerial Ladders

[nrfd90]

I would like some help with the proper way to hang a flag from Fire Depatments Aerial Ladders. I do understand that if the flag would be over a street there are some rules that do apply, but the only problem is that when we are doing a funeral for a Public safety officer (Police & Fire) or member of the armed services that has died defending our great nation it looks like the flag is flown wrong. (Backwards). It is a very emotional and impresive sight to see this 30ft by 15ft flag hanging from the aerial ladders and sometimes people get very upset when the flag looks backwards. They get very offended and I can understand it. So the Question is does the rule for flying a flag over a street more for a purminant display and does it apply to a funeral also?

[Peter Ansoff]

Greetings, nrfd90!

The relevant language from the Flag Code is Chapter 7, paragraph j:

When the flag is displayed over the middle of the street, it should be suspended vertically with the union to the north in an east and west street or to the east in a north and south street.

Since the flag is visible from both sides, one of them is obviously going to be "backward" with respect to the other one. This particular paragraph was presumably designed to address that situation.

Best,

Peter Ansoff

[NAVA1974]

Fire Depatments

Are you from Boston?

So the Question is does the rule for flying a flag over a street more for a purminant display and does it apply to a funeral also?

I cannot think of a location where the US flag is permanently displayed over a street, so any such display is "temporary." On the GWashington Bridge carrying Interstate Route 95 over the Hudson River a huge flag is displayed on major holidays, weather permitting, and although the flag itself is a permanent fixture on the GW Bridge, its display is temporary as is is only displayed on those holidays.

So Mr. Ansoff's response is appropriate regardless of the duration of display.

Nick