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Flag Etiquette · Flag Precedence

What size should the POW/MIA flag be relative to the U.S. flag?

Answered by Al Cavalari · The Flag Guys · Posted 1996, still relevant

No code I know references the size of the POW flag. No code I know that governs civilian use says the POW flag must fly on the same pole as the US Flag. The Flag Code is silent on this question as well as the question of size.. Even Title 36 of the US code is silent on that question. That code does say "(f) Display To Be in a Manner Visible to the Public.— Display of the POW/MIA flag pursuant to this section shall be in a manner designed to ensure visibility to the public. " Many questions of flag etiquette are simply not dealt with in the codes. Ask the person on your staff what his source is. He likely does not have a source. That having been said, perception is reality. Many people think a second flag must be smaller than the US flag. Those people may think you are doing it wrong unless you make the POW flag smaller. At my business, the POW flag is below the US flag on the same pole, and it is smaller. Here is what The Institute of Heraldry says about it.. The Institute answers questions regarding flag usage in The US Army.: "DISPLAY OF THE POW/MIA FLAG. Display of this flag is covered by Section 902, Title 36 of the United States Code. The POW/MIA flag should be flown beneath the flag of the United States, if displayed on the same pole. The US Code does not address display of the POW/MIA flag with organizational flags. The order of display would therefore be at the discretion of the organization."

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