Memorial Day Flag Display Rules Most People Get Wrong

Memorial Day is one of the most important flag-flying days on the calendar. It is also one of the most misunderstood. Every year, millions of Americans put their flags out on the last Monday in May without knowing that Memorial Day has its own set of display rules that differ from every other holiday. The biggest one trips up almost everyone.

At Colonial Flag, we field questions about Memorial Day flag protocol every spring. Here is what most people get wrong and how to get it right.

Half-Staff Until Noon, Full Staff After

This is the rule that catches most people off guard. On Memorial Day, the American flag should be flown at half-staff from sunrise until noon only. At noon, the flag is raised briskly to the top of the pole, where it stays for the rest of the day. The morning half-staff position honors the men and women who died serving the country. The afternoon full-staff position represents the resolve of the living to carry on.

This is different from other half-staff days (like after the death of a president or a national tragedy), when the flag stays at half-staff from sunrise to sunset. Memorial Day is the only federal observance with this split protocol. If the flag goes up at half-staff in the morning and stays there all day, the display is technically incorrect after 12:00 p.m.

The U.S. Flag Code spells this out clearly, but it is one of those details that many flag owners have never heard.

The Flag Should Be Raised Briskly and Lowered Slowly

When raising the flag on Memorial Day morning, bring it to full staff first in one brisk motion, then lower it slowly to the half-staff position. This applies every time a flag is placed at half-staff, not only on Memorial Day, but it is especially visible on a day when so many people are watching.

At the end of the day, lower the flag slowly and ceremonially. If a group is present, this is a good moment for a brief pause or moment of silence. The way the flag goes up and comes down matters as much as where it sits on the pole.

Displaying a Flag on a Building or Porch

Not every home has a freestanding flagpole. Many people fly the flag from a bracket mounted to the porch, garage, or front of the house. On Memorial Day, the same half-staff rule applies, but the method differs. For a wall-mounted pole that angles outward, lower the flag to the halfway point of the pole shaft. If the bracket setup does not allow half-staff positioning, attach a black mourning ribbon or streamer to the top of the flag as an alternative.

A black ribbon about the same width as a flag stripe, secured at the top of the pole or just below the finial, is the traditional substitute when half-staff is not physically possible.

What To Do if Your Pole Cannot Fly at Half-Staff

Some telescoping flagpoles and fixed-mount systems do not have a halyard that allows half-staff positioning. In these cases, the mourning ribbon is the accepted solution. Fold a piece of black fabric or ribbon into a band and fasten it to the pole near the top, just below where the flag attaches. It should be visible from the street.

If upgrading the pole is an option, an external halyard system gives full control over flag height for half-staff days throughout the year, not only on Memorial Day.

Other Flags on Memorial Day

If the American flag is flown alongside a state flag, military branch flag, or POW/MIA flag, the American flag still takes the position of honor (its own right, which is the viewer's left). On Memorial Day, only the American flag goes to half-staff in the morning. Other flags on adjacent poles remain at full staff unless a specific order directs otherwise.

The one exception is the POW/MIA flag. Federal law requires the POW/MIA flag to be displayed on six specific days each year, and Memorial Day is one of them. When flown on the same pole as the American flag, the POW/MIA flag goes directly below it.

Common Mistakes To Avoid

Leaving the flag at half-staff all day is the most common error, but it is not the only one. Flying a tattered or faded flag on Memorial Day shows poor care rather than respect. If the flag on the pole has frayed edges, washed-out colors, or visible damage, replace it before the holiday. Colonial Flag offers flag repair and rotation services to keep displays looking their best year-round.

Another common mistake is leaving the flag out overnight without illumination. The Flag Code allows 24-hour display only if the flag is properly lit. If there is no light on the pole, bring the flag in at sunset.

Get Your Display Ready Before Memorial Day

Colonial Flag carries American flags in every standard size, along with flagpoles, flagpole components, and replacement halyards. If the flag or hardware needs attention, now is the time to handle it. Order early so everything is ready before the last Monday in May.

Frequently Asked Questions

When should I fly the flag at half-staff on Memorial Day?

From sunrise until noon. At noon, raise the flag briskly to full staff, where it remains for the rest of the day until sunset (or overnight if properly illuminated).

Can I display a flag at half-staff on a porch-mounted pole?

If the pole allows it, lower the flag to the midpoint of the shaft. If the mounting does not permit half-staff, attach a black mourning ribbon to the top of the pole as a substitute.

Is it okay to fly other flags on Memorial Day?

Yes. State flags, military flags, and the POW/MIA flag can all be displayed alongside the American flag. The American flag always takes the position of honor and is the only flag lowered to half-staff in the morning.

Should I take my flag down at sunset on Memorial Day?

Unless the flag is illuminated by a light source, it should come down at sunset. If a spotlight or solar light keeps the flag visible after dark, it can stay up through the night.