The tradition of flag etiquette in the United States of America is a very unique one. One of the many rules of flying a flag is that it cannot be dipped at an angle lower than 45°. The United States Flag Code outlines certain guidelines for the use, display, and disposal of the flag. For example, the flag should never be dipped to any person or thing, unless it is the ensign responding to a salute from a ship of a foreign nation. This tradition may come from the 1908 Summer Olympics in London, where countries were asked to dip their flag to King Edward VII: the American flag bearer did not. Team captain Martin Sheridan is famously quoted as saying “this flag dips to no earthly king”, though the true provenance of this quotation is unclear.

The flag is also not allowed to touch the ground and if flown at night, must be illuminated in some way. When the flag becomes ripped or tattered, and can no longer serve as a faithful symbol of the USA, it should be destroyed in a “dignified manner,” preferably by burning. Other than these few rules, there are many more customs surrounding the flag and how it should be flown, many that I recommend you look into your self.