MG William L. Freeman, Jr.
The Adjutant General
State of Mississippi

The Museum offers visiting schools the opportunity to have a flag etiquette program presented by VFW Post 3036 as part of their tour. The brief program covers the do’s and don’t of the Flag Code, focusing on how to respect our United States’ flag. Schools who aren’t able to visit the Museum can request the Flag Etiquette Program be presented in their classroom. Please contact Nikki Fairley at 601.558.2757 or nikki.fairley@us.army.mil to schedule a presentation of the program during a visit to the Museum. Please contact Wendy Stockton at 601.558.2318 or wendy.stockton@us.army.mil to request the program be presented in your classroom.

The U.S. flag has 13 horizontal stripes (which represent the original 13 states)—alternating seven red and six white—with the red stripes at top and bottom. The canton, or union of navy blue, occupies the upper left-hand quarter next to the staff and extends from the top to the lower edge of the fourth red stripe. The 50 stars in the blue union represent the number of states. The stars are arranged, with one point up,in nine horizontal rows.

Flag Code guidelines for many commonly asked questions:
The flag should never be dipped toward anyone or anything. It is flown
upside down only as a distress signal.
The flag should not be used for decoration. Bunting of blue, white and red stripes is available for this purpose (blue on top).
The flag should never be used in advertising.
The flag should not be used on anything intended to be discarded after temporary use (napkin, paper plate, etc.).
The flag should not be used as part of a costume or athletic uniform, except on the uniform of military personnel, firemen, policemen, and members of patriotic organizations.
The flag should never have any mark, insignia, letter, word, number, figure, or drawing placed on or attached to it.
The flag should never be used for receiving, holding, carrying, or delivering anything.
When the flag is lowered, no part of it should touch the ground or any other object; it should be received by waiting hands and arms.
The flag should be folded neatly and ceremoniously when being stored.
The flag should be cleaned and mended when necessary.
When a flag becomes well-worn, it should be destroyed
by burning in a dignified manner.

Fold the flag in half width-wise twice. If done by two, then the blue field should be facing the bottom on the first fold. Fold up a triangle, starting at the striped end...and repeat...until only the end of the union is exposed. Then fold down the square into a triangle and tuck inside the folds.