[vbones11]

I want to display the American, Navy, POW and the first Navy jack (don't tread on me)on my wall and im not sure in what order they are placed. the US flag should be higer than the others of course but should they be to the left or right of the US flag as you're looking at the wall? and i think the POW flag is supposed to be on the opposite end of the US so what order do the Navy and First Navy jack go in? any help will be greatly appreciated.
thanks for your time

[Peter Ansoff]

I want to display the American, Navy, POW and the first Navy jack (don't tread on me)on my wall and im not sure in what order they are placed. the US flag should be higer than the others of course but should they be to the left or right of the US flag as you're looking at the wall? and i think the POW flag is supposed to be on the opposite end of the US so what order do the Navy and First Navy jack go in?

Greetings, welcome to the forum! Here are a few thoughts on your questions:

First of all, the US flag does not necessarily need to be higher -- it can be on the same level as the other flags. If it is, the US flag should be on the right of the others (the left as seen by a viewer facing the wall). The right is generally the place of honor -- I'm not sure why but it's a tradition that goes back at least to ancient Roman times.

Army and Air Force regulations specify that the POW-MIA flag goes last in the order of precedence. The reasoning (I think) is that the POW-MIA flag is lower in precedence because it does not represent anything (state, branch of service, etc.) in and of itself. Jacks in general are sort of "supplements" to national ensigns, and are flown on the bows of Navy ships, so they do in a sense represent the nation. I think that I'd go for USA/FNJ/POW-MIA, in order from right to left (again, it would be left to right as seen by an observer).

BTW, I presented a paper at the annual NAVA conference back in 2002 on the history of the First Navy Jack. My conclusion was that it probably did not exist during the Revolutionary War, but was the result of a misunderstanding by 19th century historians. The paper was published in the NAVA Journal, "Raven" in 2004.

I hope this answers your questions.

Peter Ansoff

[vbones11]

Thanks Peter! you did leave out the USN flag but from what you said im sure it will come before FNJ and after the ensign. FNJ is one of my favorite flags! again, thank you for your help, the last thing i would want is to have someone come in to inspect my barracks room and find that my flags are displayed wrong!
sincerely,
ETSN V.J. Rimi USN

[Peter Ansoff]

you did leave out the USN flag

Oops -- sorry! That's what I get for responding in a hurry. I'd say it's a tossup between the FNJ and the Navy flag -- I don't think anyone will tell you you're wrong either way.

The FNJ is a very interesting flag, even though it seems to have been a "flag that never was" from a historical standpoint. The original source for it is a British engraving of Commodore Esek Hopkins that was basically a work of fantasy -- the artist had never seen him or his flags. What's interesting is that in the engraving the motto was "Dont Tread Upon Me" not "On Me."

I hope all's well with you over there. I've been in Naples once or twice, but spent most of the time anchored out in the harbor.

Peter A.

[namvet]

here it is.... us flag, pow/mia flag, state flag, city flag, street flag. when the pow/mia flag is flown it is flown directly below the us flag, period.

[Peter Ansoff]

here it is.... us flag, pow/mia flag, state flag

Sorry, but this is not correct. Per military regulations, the state and territorial flags have precedence over the POW/MIA flag. The relevant US Army regulation (AR 840-10) places state and territorial flags after the US flag, foreign national flags, and the flag of the President of the US, and before the service flags, but does not assign any precedence to the POW/MIA flag. The Air Force (AFI34-1201) specifies a similar order of precedence, and states explicitly that "There is no precedence for the POW/MIA flag. It shall always be displayed in a location subordinate to all other flags." (The Marine Corps Flag Manual (MCO P10520.3B) does not address the precedence of either state flags or the POW/MIA flag.)

These regulations apply only to the respective military services, of course. The chapter of the US Code that deals with display of the POW/MIA flag (Title 36 para 902) does not mention the precedence issue, and neither does the Flag Code, which is the guideline for civilian usage of the US flag. Civilian organizations, of course, are free to adopt their own regulations.

Peter Ansoff

[namvet]

if you will pull up the wed site for displaying the pow/mia flag you will see and read that it is to be flown under the us flag if on one pole. i don't have the web site handy at this time. also it is the only flag that can ever be flown over the ritundra in dc other than the us flag. i will send you the web site in a day or two. thanks for the comment.

[american_flag_uk]

hi there.
i have to agree with Peter on this one.

it WOULD fly under the USA flag if on one pole.... but only if there was no other flag on that pole also ie a state flag

lets see your source and we can check it- it is not right though if its telling people to place the pow/mia flag over a state flag

[american_flag_uk]

ahh - peter... i found the site i think namvet might be talking about

AII POW-MIA - Histories - POW-MIA Flag

this site does claim that the Pow/mia flag should go below to US flag and above any state flag....

but that just doesnt sound correct to me.... the pow/mia should be going BELOW the state flag

your thoughts?

[namvet]

here it is i think. go to search and type in ..... flying the pow/mia flag. go to the 2nd or 3rd link ,the one that says... the pow/mia flag and read. it should aldo tell that there is an update 1/3/08. thanks