Display of Flags (GA-31, Rev.1)CITY OF DELRAY BEACH
ADMINISTRATIVE POLICIES AND PROCEDURES
DEPARTMENT:Public Works /Parks &
Recreation /Fire
POLICY NUMBER:GA-31,Rev.1
SUBJECT:Display of Flags SUPERSEDES:GA-31,Rev.0
REVISION:
APPROVED BY:
PURPOSE
CTIVE DATE:
Terrence R.Moore,ICMA-CM,City Manager
The purpose of this policy is to give direction to Department Heads regarding the display of the Flag of the
United States of America and other Flags outside public buildings of this City.
POLICY
The City realizes that the display of the United States Flag,due to the diversified departments and public
buildings in the City,should be standardized
The City also realizes that displaying the Flag at half-staff is a gesture of remembrance and mourning that
should not be practiced indiscriminately so as not to dilute its symbolic meaning.
PROCEDURE
A.Definitions
"The Flag"shall,for this procedure,mean the Flag of the United States of America.
'The State Flag"shall,for this procedure,mean the Flag of the State of Florida.
'The City Flag"shall,for this procedure,mean the Flag of the City of Delray Beach.
"Half-staff"means the position of the Flag when it is one-half the instance between the top and bottom
of the staff.
"Executive or Military department"means any agency listed under Sections 101 and 102 of Title 5,
United States Code.
"Member of Congress"means a Senator,a Representative,a Delegate,or the Resident Commissioner
from Puerto Rico.
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B.Time and Occasions for Display of the Flag:
It is the universal custom to display the Flag only from sunrise to sunset on buildings and on stationary
flagstaffs in the open.However,when a patriotic effect is desired,the Flag may be displayed 24 hours
a day if properly illuminated during the hours of darkness.
The Flag should be hoisted briskly and lowered ceremoniously.
The Flag should not be displayed on days when the weather is inclement,except when an all-weather
Flag is displayed.
C.Position and Manner of Display of the Flag:
The Flag of the United States of America should be at the center and at the highest point of the group
when a number of Flags of states or localities or pennants of societies are grouped and displayed from
staffs.
When Flags of states or localities or pennants of societies are flown on the same halyard with the Flag
of the United States,the latter should always be at the peak.When the Flag are flown from adjacent
staffs,the Flag of the United States should be hoisted first and lowered last.No such Flag,or pennant
may be placed above the Flag of the United States or to the United States Flag's right.
D.Display of the Flag in mourning I half-staff:
The Flag,when flown at half-staff,should be first hoisted to the peak for an instant and then lowered to
the half-staff position.The Flag should be again raised to the peak before it is lowered for the day.On
Memorial Day,the Flag should be displayed at half-staff until noon only,then raised to the top of the
staff.By order of the President,the Flag shall be flown at half-staff upon he death f principal figures of
the United States Government and the Governor of a state,territory,or possession,as a mark of
respect to their memory.In the event of the death of other officials or foreign dignitaries,the Flag is to
be displayed at half-staff according to Presidential instructions or orders.In the event of the death of a
present or former official of the government of the State of Florida,or the death of a member of the
Arme Forces from Florida,the Governor may proclaim that the National Flag shall be flown at half-staff.
The Flag shall be flown at half-staff thirty days from the death of the President or a former President;
ten days from the day of death of the Vice-President,the Chief Justice or a retired Chief Justice of the
United States or the Speaker of the House of Representatives;from the day of death until internment
of an Associate Justice of the Supreme Court,a Secretary of an executive or military department,a
former Vice-President,or the Governor of a state,territory,or possession;and on the day of death and
the following day for a Member of Congress.The Flag shall be flown at half-staff on Peace Officers
Memorial Day,unless that day is also Armed Forces Day.
All other City and State Flags shall be lowered to half-staff any time that the Flag of the United States
of America is lowered to half-staff.
G.Display of the City Flag in mourning I half-staff:
The City Flag may be placed at half-staff as a display of mourning on all or designated public buildings
for a public official or employee of the City who gave their life in the performance of duty or service,or
who has served the City with distinction,or retired from employment with the City and has passed away
from natural causes.
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The City Manager shall be the final authority for the display of the City Flag at half-staff.
H.Destruction of worn Flags:
The Flag,when it is in such condition that it is no longer a fitting emblem for display,should be destroyed
in a dignified way,preferably by burning.
I.Destruction of worn City and State Flag:
The City or State Flag,when it is in such condition that it is no longer a fitting emblem for display,should
be destroyed in a dignified way,preferably by burning.