For several years Kenneth Grover (KSSSAR and CASSAR) has made presentations to students, civic groups, and senior citizens on the proper display of the U.S. flag.  As he speaks about the history of the U.S. flag he asks the audience to take a quiz related to a number of flags on display in the room.  At the end he gives the answers based on the U.S. Flag Code.  Each person grades his or her own paper, so no one is embarrassed at errors.  The text and the photographs here are used with Ken Grover's permission.

Not one of the first 300 people who took the test got all the answers right.   There are many ways to display a flag, and the rules are not easy to remember, so be nice to those who have made an error and be diplomatic in guiding them to develop a proper flag display.

Hello.  My name is Kenneth Grover.  I belong to an organization known as the Sons of the American Revolution.  All of the members of this group can trace their family trees back to at least one person who served during the American Revolutionary War in the 1770's and 1780's.  My grandfather's grandfather's father, Azariah Davis, was a member of the New Jersey militia during the Revolutionary War.  That war gave us a new, free nation and also a new flag -- one with thirteen stars and thirteen stripes.

Everyday you are likely to see our national flag in many places -- flying from poles, hanging on walls, and as a patch on uniforms.  Our current national flag still has thirteen stripes but it now has fifty stars.  Many people like to display the flag, but some are being flown or displayed incorrectly.   The flag is a symbol of the basic principles of the United States, so we should show respect for it at all times.  It upsets me to see the flag that so many people have fought for being disrespected.

Did you know that there is an official set of rules and regulations that govern the proper display and use of our nation's flag?  The American flag code was made into law in 1942 and is today a part of the Laws of the United States, Title 36, Chapter 10, Sections 171 through 178.  It is updated periodically.

Using the Flag Code, I prepared a quiz to see if you understand the proper display of our nation's flag.  Below are pictures of the flag in a number of settings.   Get a piece of paper and a pencil, write the numbers 1 through 13, and after each number mark down whether that picture shows correct or incorrect use of the flag.

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--- 1 --- --- 2 ---
The 34-star flag was used by Northern troops during the Civil War.
The "Betsy Ross" flag was in common use from 1790 until 1795,
when the 14th and 15th states (VT and KY) were admitted to the union.

Are these flags displayed correctly or incorrectly?

  
--- 3 --- --- 4 ---

--- 5 ---
Desk stands of flags are popular, but people may not set them up properly.
#3 has state flags and the U.S. flag.
#4 is the Mexican flag and the U.S. flag.
#5 is just the U.S. flag.


--- 6 ---

--- 7 & 8 ---
May the flag be used to decorate a podium or an automobile?
Here the flag is shown on an antenna (7) and taped to the side of the door (8).

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--- 9 --- --- 10 ---
Is it OK to display the flag on packages of merchandise or tote bags?

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--- 11 --- --- 12 ---
What about patches for hotel personnel or pins to wear when travelling?


--- 13 ---
Where should you place flags behind a desk?

When you have answers for all 13 pictures (don't click until you're really done),
jump to the answer sheet.