PDF download Download Article PDF download Download Article

If you’ve ever been to a flag-raising ceremony, you may have noticed how much care is put into the event. Flags are treated with such respect because of what they represent. If you want to hoist your own flag, you can! It’s not as tough as you may think. To make the job even easier, we’ve answered a few common questions about what it takes to properly hoist a flag.

Question 1

What does it mean to hoist a flag?

PDF download Download Article
Question 3

How do you hoist a flag on a flagpole?

PDF download Download Article
  1. The rope that connects the flag to the flag pole is called the halyard. Tie a loop at 1 end of the halyard and attach it to the toggle at the top of the flag. If there isn’t a toggle, tie a knot to attach the halyard to the loop at the top of the flag. Then, tie the other end of the halyard to the short rope connected to the bottom of the flag.[4]
    • Make sure the flag is oriented correctly so it flies in the right direction and is right-side up.
  2. 2
    Pull the rope to hoist the flag until it’s tight. Grab the halyard and pull it down to start raising the flag upward. Continue pulling until the flag reaches the very top of the pole. Keep the halyard nice and taut so the flag stays close to the pole.[5]
    • Make sure there isn’t any slack in the halyard.
  3. 3
    Tie the halyard to the cleat using a figure-8 pattern. Keeping the halyard taut, wrap it around the cleat of the flag pole, which is a piece of hardware attached to the pole that you use to tie the rope to so it doesn’t come loose. Continue looping it over the cleat in a figure-8 pattern so it’s securely connected to the cleat and won’t come undone.[6]
  4. Advertisement
Question 4

What are the rules for flag hoisting?

PDF download Download Article
  1. Once the flag is securely attached to the halyard on the flag pole, pull the halyard swiftly to hoist the flag briskly. Whenever it’s time to take it down, untie the halyard from the cleat, lower the flag slowly, and remove it with respect and care.[7]
  2. 2
    Show the flag respect at all times. Never display the flag upside-down or allow it to touch anything below it such as the ground. If the flag is torn or dirty, destroy it. Don’t fly a flag that’s in poor condition. Never hoist a flag in inclement weather unless it’s an all-weather flag that can handle the elements.[8]
  3. 3
    Display flags from sunrise to sunset. Attach your flag to the flagpole and hoist it just as the sun is rising in the morning. Allow the flag to fly all day long (unless it starts raining). Just as the sun begins to set, slowly and respectfully lower the flag and remove it from the halyard.[9]
  4. Advertisement

Expert Q&A

Ask a Question
200 characters left
Include your email address to get a message when this question is answered.
Submit
Advertisement

Video

Tips

Submit a Tip
All tip submissions are carefully reviewed before being published
Name
Please provide your name and last initial
Thanks for submitting a tip for review!
Advertisement

About This Article

wikiHow Staff
Co-authored by:
wikiHow Staff Writer
This article was co-authored by wikiHow Staff. Our trained team of editors and researchers validate articles for accuracy and comprehensiveness. wikiHow's Content Management Team carefully monitors the work from our editorial staff to ensure that each article is backed by trusted research and meets our high quality standards. This article has been viewed 67,062 times.
34 votes - 85%
Co-authors: 8
Updated: December 6, 2024
Views: 67,062
Categories: Flags
Thanks to all authors for creating a page that has been read 67,062 times.

Reader Success Stories

  • Evenwhere J.

    Evenwhere J.

    Jan 12

    "It helped through my research."
Share your story

Did this article help you?

Advertisement