How to Display Multiple Flags

If you have several flags you wish to display, it's important to display them properly. The basic rules for displaying multiple flags in the United States take the following order from left to right:

• National flags first, followed by
• State flags, followed by
• Territory flags, followed by
• Military flags

Here are the basic rules for displaying each of these flags:

Displaying National Flags            

If you are displaying several national flags, you should display the United States flag first, followed by any other national flags in alphabetical order. For example: if you have flags for Great Britain, Ireland, Germany, Canada, and the United States, you would put them in the following order (again from left to right when viewing the flags): United States, Canada, Germany, Great Britain, and Ireland. The United States flag is put in the most prominent position. If you are flying flags from several different countries during peacetime, all other country flags must be the same size and flown at the same height.

If the flags are to be flown in a circle or group of poles, the United States flag is always in the center and higher than any other flag, other than national flags. If you are displaying several flags on one pole (no other national flags are allowed), the United States flag must be in the highest position. If you wish to display the United States flag on something other than a flag pole, it needs to be displayed flat in a prominent place with the stars on the viewer's upper left hand corner.

Displaying State and Territory Flags

The most prominent state flag should be the state the flag is flying, followed by each state, and then each territory, as they were admitted into the Union.

Displaying Military Flags

Military flags are displayed in the order when that branch of service was founded. The order should go:

• Army
• Marines
• Navy
• Air Force
• Coast Guard
• Any other group

To learn more about the correct ways to display and maintain flags and banners take a look at our other flag care and flag maintenance pages and posts at www.accentbanner.com. Our specialists are happy to assist you with any flag care questions you may have.