随着美国独立日的到来，我们认为这可能是一个好机会，可以看一看旨在带着敬意展示美国国旗的规则，即美国国旗守则。

什么时候执行的这些规则？

令人惊讶的是在美国历史晚期了。在1923年的国旗日，一些由美国退伍军人领导的组织略述了国旗守则作为展示国旗的一套建议性规则。这些规则在第二次世界大战期间成为法律，形成了现在美国国旗守则中的大部分内容。
这些规则涵盖了所有的非常具体的情况，但它们都由同一个基本原则支配：国旗是我们国家的最明显和最重要的标志之一，所以我们应该尊重地对待它。

国旗应该在什么时候悬挂？

国旗守则第六章说，“国旗应该在所有的日子里悬挂。”但是，守则接着说，国旗要特别（强调）将在这些日子里悬挂：元旦，就职日，马丁路德金纪念日，林肯的生日，华盛顿的生日，复活节，母亲节，武装部队日，阵亡将士纪念日，国旗日，父亲节，独立日，朝鲜战争停战纪念日，劳动节，宪法日，哥伦布日，海军节，退伍军人节，感恩节，圣诞节，国家假期，州的加入联盟日，以及“其他可能由美国总统宣布的日子。”

应该在哪里悬挂国旗？

国旗守则第六章涵盖了这个问题。国旗应该在每个上学日悬挂在学校里或附近，每天在每一个公共机构的主要行政大楼上或附近，并在每个选举日投票的地方或附近。

什么时候倒挂国旗是可以接受的？

国旗守则规定只有当国旗“作为在生命或财产遭受到极端危险的危难信号”时可以将联盟标志（蓝底星星图案）朝下悬挂。

我们知道，在美国本土，美国国旗应该是在一个相较于其他旗帜更突出的位置上悬挂，是否有例外的情况呢？

国旗守则第7章提供了一个主要的例外情况：联合国旗帜可以在纽约联合国总部挂在荣誉或突出位置。

唯一的另一个例外情况是由海军牧师在海上执行教会仪式的时候。在这种情况下，教会的旗帜可以在仪式期间挂在高于美国国旗的位置。

什么时候国旗会降半旗？

国旗会在以下日子降半旗：爱国者日（每年9月11日），和平官员阵亡将士纪念日（5月15日）和珍珠港纪念日（12月7日）。在阵亡将士纪念日，国旗会降半旗直到中午，然后被升回到旗杆最高处。

关于为新的州增添新星星的规定是什么？

假如我们达到了51个州，国旗守则第2章规定，国家将在国旗上增加一个新星星。不过，这不会是一个一夜之间的过程。新的星星将在该州正式加入联盟后的第一个7月4日首次登场。

中国关于国旗有什么规定呢？

改编自(MentalFloss.com)

Rules on flying the American flag

As Independence day is coming up, we thought it might be a good time to take a look at some of the rules for respectfully displaying the American flag, as dictated by the United States Flag Code.

When did these flag rules fall into place?

Surprisingly late in American history. On Flag Day in 1923, a group of organizations headed by the American Legion outlined the National Flag Code as a set of advisory rules for displaying the flag. These rules became law during World War II and form the bulk of what's now the United States Flag Code.

These rules cover all manner of extremely specific situations, but they're all governed by the same basic principle: the flag is one of the most visible and important symbols of our country, so we should treat it with respect.

When should the flag be displayed?

Section 6 of the flag code states, "The flag should be displayed on all days." However, the code goes on to say that the flag should especially (emphasis added) be displayed on the following days: New Year's Day, Inauguration Day, Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, Lincoln's birthday, Washington's birthday, Easter, Mother's Day, Armed Forces Day, Memorial Day, Flag Day, Father's Day, Independence Day, National Korean War Veterans Armistice Day, Labor Day, Constitution Day, Columbus Day, Navy Day, Veterans Day, Thanksgiving, Christmas, state holidays, states' dates of admission, and "such other days as may be proclaimed by the President of the United States."
Where should the flag be displayed?

Section 6 of the flag code covers this question, too. The flag should be displayed in or near every schoolhouse on school days, on or near the main administration building of every public institution each day, and in or near every polling place on election days.

When is it acceptable to fly the flag upside down?

The flag code allows for flying the flag with the union (the blue field of stars) down only "as a signal of dire distress in instances of extreme danger to life or property."

We know that the American flag is supposed to be displayed in a position of prominence over other flags on American soil. Are there any exceptions to this rule?

Section 7 of the flag code provides one major exception: the flag of the United Nations can be flown in the position of honor or prominence at the U.N. headquarters in New York.

The only other exception involves church services performed by naval chaplains while at sea. In these instances, the church's flag may fly above the American flag during the service.

What days is the flag always flown at half-staff?

The flag always flies on half-staff on Patriot Day (September 11 of each year), Peace Officers Memorial Day (May 15), and Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day (December 7). On Memorial Day, the flag flies at half-staff until noon, at which point it is raised to the top of the staff.

What about adding new stars for new states?

Should we ever pick up a 51st state, Section 2 of the flag code stipulates that the state will get a new star on the flag. It won't be an overnight process, though. The new star will make its debut on the first Fourth of July following the state's formal admission into the union.

What rules does China have for your national flag?

Adapted from (MentalFloss.com)