President's Radio Address

[USAFlags]

"This Memorial Day, I ask all Americans to honor the sacrifices of those who have served you and our country. One way to do so is by joining in a moment of remembrance that will be marked across our country at 3:00 p.m. local time. At that moment, Major League Baseball games will pause, the National Memorial Day parade will halt, Amtrak trains will blow their whistles, and buglers in military cemeteries will play Taps. You can participate by placing a flag at a veteran's grave, taking your family to the battlefields where freedom was defended, or saying a silent prayer for all the Americans who were delivered out of the agony of war to meet their Creator. Their bravery has preserved the country we love so dearly."

President's Radio Address

[Peter Ansoff]

The "flag code" specifies a unique etiquette for displaying the flag on Memorial Day:

On Memorial Day the flag should be displayed at half-staff until noon only, then raised to the top of the staff.

The correct procedure for raising the flag to half-staff is as follows:

The flag, when flown at half-staff, should be first hoisted to the peak for an instant and then lowered to the half-staff position. The flag should be again raised to the peak before it is lowered for the day.

The proper procedure on Memorial Day is therefore: in the morning, raise the flag to the top of the pole for an instant and then lower it back to half staff. At noon, raise it to the top of the pole and leave it there until sunset.

Peter Ansoff