How To Set Up a Flag Display for a Memorial Day Ceremony

A Memorial Day ceremony does not need to be large to be meaningful. A brief gathering at a park, cemetery, school, or community center can carry real weight when the flag display is done correctly. The flag is the visual center of the event, and how it is positioned, sized, and handled tells the audience that the organizers took the occasion seriously.

Colonial Flag has helped communities set up flag displays for ceremonies of every size for more than 40 years. Here is how to get the details right.

Choose the Right Location and Layout

Pick a spot where the flag will be visible to the entire audience. If the ceremony has a podium or stage, the flag should be to the speaker's right (the audience's left). This is the position of honor defined by the U.S. Flag Code. If the ceremony is outdoors and there is a permanent flagpole on site, use it as the anchor point and arrange seating to face it.

For locations without a permanent pole, a portable indoor flag set with a weighted stand works well on a stage or in a building lobby. Make sure the flag has enough clearance above and around it so the fabric hangs or flies freely without hitting anything.

Select the Right Flag Sizes

The flag should be proportional to the space. A small gathering in a park gazebo calls for a 3x5-foot or 4x6-foot flag. A larger ceremony at a municipal building or cemetery with a tall commercial flagpole can handle a 5x8-foot flag or bigger. The goal is for the flag to be clearly visible from every seat without overwhelming the space or looking like an afterthought.

If the ceremony includes a processional or color guard, the carried flags should be appropriately sized for the staff (pole) they are mounted on. A standard parade flag is typically 3x5 feet on an 8- or 9-foot staff.

Displaying Multiple Flags in the Correct Order

Position of Honor

The American flag always holds the position of honor. When displayed with other flags on separate poles, the American flag goes to its own right, which is the audience's left when facing the display. All other flags are positioned to the left of the American flag (the audience's right). No flag should be flown higher than the American flag or on a taller pole.

Military Branch Flag Order

If the ceremony includes military branch flags, they have a specific order based on the date each branch was established. From the American flag's left to right (audience perspective, right to left), the order is: Army (1775), Marine Corps (1775), Navy (1775), Air Force (1947), Space Force (2019), and Coast Guard (1790). This order is based on Department of Defense directive and applies to all official displays.

Colonial Flag carries the full range of military and specialty flags for ceremony use.

Setting Up a Stage or Podium Display

When the American flag is displayed flat against a wall behind a stage, the union (blue field of stars) should be to the flag's own right, which is the audience's left. When the flag is on a staff beside the podium, it goes to the speaker's right. If there is a second flag (state, organization, or POW/MIA), it goes to the speaker's left.

Make sure indoor flag stands are stable enough to stay upright throughout the event. Weighted bases are the safest option on hard floors or carpeted stages. Check that the flag is properly attached to the staff and that the staff is secured tightly in the stand before the ceremony begins.

Adding Bunting and Decorative Elements

Red, white, and blue bunting is a traditional decoration for Memorial Day ceremonies. It adds visual impact to stages, railings, and fences without competing with the flag itself. The important rule for bunting is that the blue stripe should always be on top, followed by white, then red on the bottom.

Bunting should never be used as a substitute for the flag and should not be draped over the flag or used in a way that resembles a flag. Colonial Flag produces custom banners and decorative products that hold up well for outdoor ceremonies.

Timing the Half-Staff Protocol

If the ceremony takes place in the morning, the flag should be at half-staff. If it runs past noon, plan for a visible moment where the flag is raised to full staff at 12:00 p.m. This can be incorporated into the program as a meaningful transition, often accompanied by a moment of silence or a bugle call. Coordinating this with the emcee or ceremony leader in advance keeps the timing smooth.

Review the full flag etiquette guide before the event to make sure every detail is covered.

Find Everything You Need for Your Ceremony

Colonial Flag stocks American flags, commercial flagpoles, indoor flag sets, military branch flags, and custom ceremony displays. For group orders or help planning a ceremony setup, call 801-562-0123 or visit the Sandy, Utah showroom.

Frequently Asked Questions

What order do military branch flags go in?

By date of establishment: Army, Marine Corps, Navy, Air Force, Space Force, Coast Guard. They are placed in this order from the American flag's left (audience's right) outward.

Should the flag be at half-staff during the entire ceremony?

Only until noon. If the ceremony extends past 12:00 p.m., the flag should be raised to full staff at noon. Many organizers build this into the program as a symbolic moment.

Can we use flag bunting alongside the American flag?

Yes. Bunting is a traditional and appropriate decoration for patriotic ceremonies. Keep the blue stripe on top, and never drape bunting over or in place of the actual flag.

What size flag should we use for a Memorial Day ceremony?

Match the flag to the space. A 3x5 or 4x6-foot flag works for smaller gatherings. Larger outdoor ceremonies with a tall flagpole can use a 5x8-foot flag or larger.