Displaying the U.S. Flag and the POW-MIA Flag

U.S. Flag at Half-Staff

How to Display

Displaying the U.S. flag at half-staff means lowering the flag to half the distance between the top and bottom of the staff.

Specific Dates

Display the U.S. flag at half-staff on the following days each year:

• May 15: Peace Officers Memorial Day (see note 1 below).

• Last Monday in May: Memorial Day Observed (see note 2 below).

• December 7: National Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day.

Note 1: When May 15, which is the date for Peace Officers Memorial Day, falls on the third Saturday in May, which is the date for Armed Forces Day, display the U.S. flag in the full-staff position, not at half-staff.

Note 2: On the last Monday in May, when Memorial Day is observed, display the flag at half-staff from sunrise, or the hour at which you raise it, until 12 noon, and then hoist it to the peak of the staff, until the time of closing or no later than sunset.

POW-MIA Flag

How to Display

In relation to the U.S. flag, display the POW-MIA flag (and any other flag) as follows:

• If displayed on the same flagstaff, place it below the U.S. flag.

• If displayed on a separate flagstaff, place it at the same level or lower. If displayed at the same level, place it on the U.S. flag's left.

When flying the U.S. flag at half-staff, fly the POW-MIA flag (and any other flags) at half-staff also.

Specific Dates

Display the POW-MIA flag on the following days each year:

• Armed Forces Day: Third Saturday in May.

• Memorial Day: Last Monday in May.

• Flag Day: June 14.

• Independence Day: July 4.

• National POW-MIA Recognition Day: Third Friday in September.

• Veterans Day: November 11.

If any of these days fall on a nonbusiness day, display the POW-MIA flag on the last business day before the designated day.

For more detailed information about flying the U.S. flag and the POW-MIA flag,
see the following sections in the Administrative Support Manual (ASM):

• ASM 472, U.S. Flag Display.

• ASM 476, POW-MIA Flag Display.

— Communication Integration, Public Affairs and Communications, 5-25-06