Hello everyone. I'm new to the site. I have a question I need your help on. My Brother just built a new union hall and placed two flag poles out front with the flood lights installed underneath. I have 4 flags to raise. I know without question the American Flag is on top. I also have a Nevada State Flag, POW/MIA Flag and my International Union Flag. Could anyone please advise me on the formation so I do not offend.
I also have the American Flag and the Nevada State Flag behind the podium where the officers sit. When we open our meetings we pledge alligence to the American Flag. Is there any place by tradition the flags should be stationed? Left or right, standing or mounted, angle or stright?
Thank you all so much for the assistance.
Brett McCoy

[Just Learning]

I am also new to this site. Am looking for pictures of two flag poles on a building with the American flag and a state flag. Be assured the American flag is to be to the left as view by the public. If you stand as if you are the American flag, looking toward the public, no flag should be to YOUR right. Good luck on your other flag questions.

[american_flag_uk]

are you meaning the union flag if the united kingdom/?? if so i think i can help with this flag display

i will tell you the correct way as if you are looking at the building with the 2 flagpoles infront of it

the American flag should be on the left side flagpole at the top (if u were the flagpole facing out youd have the other flagpole to your left)

now the flag code states that in times of peace no flag of any country should be higher up than the other flag....

so based on that you Union flag would go at the top of the right side flagpole (the left pole if u were the pole facing out)

now for the other 2 flags would make sense to put the state flag below the stars and stripes..... and put the pow flag under the union flag

hope that helps

[Peter Ansoff]

"are you meaning the union flag if the united kingdom/?? if so i think i can help with this flag display"

Hi,

I don't think that Brett was referring to the British Union flag. He described it as the "International Union Flag," and mentioned that it would be flying outside a union hall in Nevada. I suspect that he meant the flag of the International Labor Organization (ILO). If this is correct, the protocol is kind of tricky, for two reasons. First, the ILO is an international organization (originally an agency of the League of Nations, and now of the UN, but with its own constitution and membership). Second, and more importantly, the ILO has *its own* flag code. It is very detailed, but the relevant parts are as follows:

- When the ILO flag is displayed with one or more other flags, all the flags must be displayed on the same level and be of approximately equal size.
- On no account may any flag displayed with the ILO flag be displayed at a higher level than the ILO flag or be larger than it.
- The ILO flag may be displayed on either side of any other flag without being demend to be subordinated to any such flag . . .

Actually, A_F_UK's solution would follow both the US and ILO flag codes. However, it puts the POW-MIA flag under the ILO flag. In general, flying a flag under another flag implies some sort of subordination (that is, the lower flag represents something that is part of, or owes allegiance to, or is owned by, or is the responsibility of, the upper one.) The POW-MIA flag represents American servicemen, and has nothing to do with the ILO.

I'm not sure what the right answer would be. No matter how you slice it, the ILO flag really belongs on a pole by itself. However, it would look very strange to have 3 flags on the right-hand pole and only one on the left hand. The idea solution would be to put up another pole!

BTW, the ILO flag looks like the UN flag, but has 3 segments of a cog wheel surrounding the letters "ILO" in place of the world map.

Regards,

Peter Ansoff

[american_flag_uk]

dang sarnit!!! well i have only been doin this vexillology bit for like 5 months!!! u peter prove to me i have A LOT to learn yet!!!!

[Peter Ansoff]

A_F_UK: Hey, not to worry! Actually, your solution was pretty close. *I* didn't know that the ILO had a flag code until I did some quick research. That's the great thing about vexillology -- you never run out of new things to learn.

Regards,

Peter Ansoff