US Flag in Military Vehicle

[sapd2602]

Is the US Flag allowed to be transported in a miltary vehicle .. for a ceremony or flag detail

[Peter Ansoff]

Hello, sapd2602 -- welcome to the forum!

Is the US Flag allowed to be transported in a miltary vehicle .. for a ceremony or flag detail

The US flag can be transported in any type of vehicle -- I don't know of any rule that says otherwise. I'm guessing, however, that you are referring to a specific case of using a vehicle in a ceremony. Could you give us some more details about the situation?

Best regards,

Peter Ansoff

[sapd2602]

well me n my nco were having a discusion about the american flag .. im on flag detail right now and we both herd from alot of people saying u cant put the american flag in ur vehicle.. but we were just trying to find out if it was true maybe get a AR stating it cant .. I tried looking it up but didnt find nothing on it saying u cant so just asking around.

[Peter Ansoff]

The only reference that I know of is in FM 3-21.5, in the section dealing with funerals:

"When the receptacle [containing cremated remains] and flag are placed before the chancel of the chapel or transported to gravesite by vehicle, the receptacle and folded flag are placed side by side."

AR 840-10 describes the proper way to mount a US flag on a vehicle (on the right front fender), but I think that's different from what you are asking about.

Peter Ansoff

[NAVA1974]

....alot of people saying u cant put the american flag in ur vehicle...

I, too, am having a difficult time correctly interpreting your question. What kind of flag are you talking about? A USA flag in its original box? A flag mounted on a staff for use in a parade? A flag to be hoisted on a pole? A flag folded after an internment ceremony? A flag draped across the back window of a pickup truck?

On the other hand, it really does not make any difference. As Peter Ansoff noted there are no restrictions on the transporting of an American flag. When flags are made they are usually boxed and shipped by truck all over the country. If purchased retail, people take them home in their cars. If purchased over the internet, the Postal Service or UPS transport them in trucks. So there is no problem at all with simply transporting a flag in a vehicle.

There are some guidelines for displaying flags on vehicles. They may not be draped over the hood in a parade, for example. They are to be mounted on a staff, as Ansoff noted. I am not sure if the Flag Code really addresses the use of the flag as a curtain in a pickup truck, however. I think that might push the limits of what is appropriate. I have seen a few Rebel flags in pickups, but that trend seems to be dying out.

Nick A
Columbia MD