Showing Off Your Multiculturalism? How to Display the American Flag with Other Flags

There are over 44.7 million immigrants in the United States, each one an important part of America’s culture. Many immigrants have moved to the U.S. to escape poverty and other debilitating issues in their home country. Although this is true, it’s still common for immigrants — no matter where they’re from — to feel homesick at times.

Hanging a flag from your native country alongside the U.S. flag is a great way to show your pride for your home country, and avoid feeling too homesick.

According to the experts at https://flagpolesetc.com/blog/how-to-choose-a-residential-flagpole here are some helpful tips on how to choose a residential flagpole and how to hang the flag.

Can I Display Other Flags With the American Flag?

You can display any country’s flag alongside the American flag. It’s America, after all — what kind of free country would it be if you couldn’t?

However, there are rules when it comes to how you display flags alongside the American flag. These rules are laid out in the United States Flag Code, Chapter 1 of Title 4 of the United States Code. Although people aren’t often penalized for going against the code, it acts as a good guideline to follow for displaying the American flag alongside other flags.

How Many Stars Are on the American Flag?

Pop quiz! How many stars are on the American flag? While we’re at it, how many stripes are on the American flag?

There are 50 stars on the typical American flag and 13 stripes. The stars represent each state, while the stripes represent the original 13 colonies. Every American should know this, especially if they plan on hanging an American flag on their property.

How to Display the American Flag With Other Flags

The important thing to keep in mind when displaying other flags next to the American flag is respect.
Whether you’re a U.S. citizen or not, you need to show the utmost respect for the American flag at all times. These tips will help you remain respectful and dignified when displaying the American flag with others.

Fly the U.S. Flag the Highest

First and foremost, always fly the American flag higher than all other flags.

If you have multiple flags on one flagpole, make sure the American flag is flying at the top. If you have multiple flagpoles, ensure the pole with the American flag on it is a little higher. If they’re all the same height, fly the other country’s flags slightly lower on the pole, and put the American flag right to the top.

Flying another country’s flag higher than the American flag is disrespectful. It shows allegiance for another country over the one you’re currently living in. To remain respectful, always fly America’s flag highest.

Try to Keep the American Flag the Largest

Flags come in a lot of different sizes, but the American flag should be the largest of the bunch.
The size of a flag is seen as a sign of importance. The bigger the flag, the more respect you have for the country displayed. The safest way to go is to get flags of the same size — that way there’s no favoritism at play.

Put the American Flag in the Center of a Display

If you’re displaying the U.S. flag among a series of other national flags on their own poles, put the American flag in the middle.

Make sure it’s on the highest flagpole, and display it in-between every other flag. This highlights the American flag and shows it as the strongest of the display.

This only applies with national flags, though. With international flag displays, the American flag should be to the farthest right of the display. The pole should be the same size as every other flag.

Hoist First, Lower Last

The American flag should be the first flag you hoist on the pole, and the last you lower at the end of the day.

Of course, if all the flags are on one pole they’re all hoisted and lowered at once. If you have multiple poles, though, make sure the American one is first hoisted and last lowered. This shows ultimate respect for your country, and gives you a moment to reflect on how great the country is.

Keep to a Speaker’s Right

If you’re setting flags up next to a speaker at an event, always place the American flag on the presenter’s right.

This ensures that the flag is on the left-hand side from the audience’s perspective. The left-hand side is seen as more respectful, as it’s the side where the heart is. Displaying the American flag on the speaker’s left is disrespectful, and tells others they have more care for the other country’s flag.

Keep to the Right on a Cross Mount

If you’re wondering how to display the American flag indoors with other flags, many people go with a cross-staff. This is a way to display the American flag and another flag on thin poles, crossed in an X-shape.

If you’re doing this, keep the American flag to the right-hand side. Like displaying it next to a speaker, this situates the flag on the left from the viewer’s perspective. Make sure each flag is displayed at the same height, and make sure they don’t overlap in the very middle of the staff — they should meet up at a central point.

It’s All About Respect

When it comes to learning how to display the American flag with other flags, it’s all about respect. The American flag needs to be the most important, respected flag of the bunch. You need to show your pride for America, and the best way to do that is to make the American flag the center of the show.

Follow these tips above and you can’t go wrong.

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