Re: questions on flags

[doncolson]

My neighborhood association has constructed a flag plaza. We will display the United States flag, the Canadian flag, and the flag of the State of Florida. Which should be displayed in the center.
Thank you.
Don Colson,Tamarac, FL

[Peter Ansoff]

Hi, Don!

My neighborhood association has constructed a flag plaza. We will display the United States flag, the Canadian flag, and the flag of the State of Florida. Which should be displayed in the center.

Well, it depends. If the flagpoles are in a straight row, the order should be US-Canada-Florida in order from left to right (the viewer's left, that is). If the poles are in a triangle formation, the US flag should go on the "front" pole, Canada on the left rear pole and Florida on the right rear pole, again as viewed by an observer facing the flags).

The principle, which goes back to medieval heraldry, is that the flag's right is the position of honor. The US flag takes precedence over the Canadian flag because the US is the "host," and both national flags take precedence over a state flag.

Peter Ansoff