Flag for Memorial Day

Memorial Day Flag Protocol and Etiquette

The flag code sets clear rules for Memorial Day. According to proper protocol, American flags should be raised briskly to full staff at sunrise, then lowered to half-staff until noon to honor those who died in military service, as outlined in american flag memorial day guidelines. At noon, the flag should be raised briskly back to full staff and flown there until sunset. This half-staff tradition recognizes the sacrifice of fallen service members during the morning hours, then celebrates the nation they defended for the rest of the day. If you're flying a flag on a residential flagpole, follow this timing. If you're placing grave markers at a cemetery, any time during the day shows respect.

Flags for Home Display on Memorial Day

Most customers fly a memorial day flag in a 3x5 American flag size on a residential flagpole. We stock U.S. flags made by Annin in nylon and polyester, both built for outdoor display and frequent raising and lowering. Nylon is lighter and unfurled easily in light wind. Polyester is more durable in harsh weather. Both ship free with no minimum order. If you don't have a flagpole, we stock banners and garden flags with patriotic designs that hang from porch brackets or stand in flowerbeds. Every item listed is physically here in Des Moines and goes out same or next day.

Grave Markers and Cemetery Flags

Small American flags on wire stakes are traditional grave markers for Memorial Day cemetery service. We stock 4x6 inch and 8x12 inch markers made in the USA, sold individually or in bulk packs. These are the same flags veterans' groups and civic organizations use to mark graves of armed forces members. They're made from durable polyester with double-sided mirror print so the stars and stripes display correctly from both sides. Order before 2pm Central on a weekday and they ship same day. Our memorial day flag selection is popular during Memorial Day, Flag Day, and Veteran's Day when most customers place flags at gravesites, and we keep stock year-round.

When to Fly Your Flag at Half-Staff

Memorial Day is one of several days when flag etiquette calls for half-staff display. Peace Officers Memorial Day on May 15 also requires half-staff from sunrise to sunset to honor law enforcement officers killed in the line of duty. The flag is flown at half-staff on Patriot Day, September 11, and on Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day, December 7. The President may also order half-staff for national tragedies or the death of government officials. On Memorial Day specifically, the flag flies at half-staff only until noon, then returns to full staff. This unique protocol sets Memorial Day apart from other half-staff observances.

Proper Half-Staff Technique

To display the flag at half-staff, raise it briskly to the top of the flagpole first, then lower it to the half-staff position. The flag should sit approximately halfway down the pole, not two-thirds or one-third. When you're ready to take the flag down at the end of the day, raise it briskly back to full staff before lowering it completely. This brief moment at full staff honors the flag itself before it's retired for the evening. If you're flying a flag on Memorial Day and can't adjust it at noon, it's better to fly it at full staff all day than to leave it at half-staff past noon. The custom matters, but so does practicality for home display.

Flags for Other Patriotic Holidays

The same American flags and flagpoles you use for american flag memorial day work for Flag Day on June 14, Independence Day on July 4, and Veteran's Day on November 11. Veteran's Day honors all who served in the armed forces, living and deceased, so the flag flies at full staff all day. Labor Day on the first Monday in September is another day many homeowners fly the flag, though it's not a military observance. If you're ordering a flag now for Memorial Day, you'll use it for the entire season. We stock standard 3x5 flags and larger 4x6 and 5x8 sizes for taller residential flagpoles. Every flag ships free from our Des Moines warehouse with no minimum order, and most go out same or next day.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the proper flag etiquette for Memorial Day?

Raise the American flag briskly to full staff at sunrise, lower it to half-staff immediately, then raise it back to full staff at noon. Fly it at full staff until sunset. This honors fallen service members in the morning and celebrates the nation in the afternoon.

What are you supposed to do at 3pm on Memorial Day?

The National Moment of Remembrance asks Americans to pause at 3pm local time on Memorial Day for one minute of silence to honor those who died in military service. This is a voluntary observance, not part of the flag code.

Whose graves do you put flags on for Memorial Day?

Traditionally, small American flag grave markers are placed at the graves of military service members who served in the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines, Coast Guard, or Space Force. Many people also place decorative flags at graves of police officers, firefighters, and other public servants, with options ranging from autumn designs to patriotic themes.

Do you put the flag out on 9/11?

Yes. The flag is displayed at half-staff from sunrise to sunset on September 11, Patriot Day, to honor those killed in the 2001 terrorist attacks. Unlike Memorial Day, the flag stays at half-staff the entire day.

Browse our full selection of American flags, grave markers, and patriotic banners. If it's in your cart, it's in our warehouse. Order now and it ships free, same or next day.