The Flag Lady Corp - FlagLady.com
Flag Care, Etiquette & Flagpole Maintenance
At The Flag Lady Corp., we help you care for the whole display—from the fabric to the hardware. Use these practical tips, follow your equipment's instructions, and call our family when you need help choosing a replacement or planning service.
A respectful display
Start with the right arrangement.
On one pole with a state or organizational flag, place the U.S. flag above the other flag. Follow your pole’s approved sizes and wind limits.
Flying the U.S. flag
- Customary display is sunrise to sunset. For overnight display, properly illuminate the flag.
- Raise the flag briskly and lower it ceremoniously.
- Keep it from touching the ground, water or objects beneath it.
- For half-staff display, raise it to the top first, then lower it to half-staff. Raise it to the top again before lowering it for the day. Check official notices for the location and dates that apply.
- On one pole with state or organizational flags, place the U.S. flag at the top. For several nations, use separate poles of equal height and flags of approximately equal size in peacetime.
These are selected customs, not a complete protocol guide. Read the Flag Code through the American Legion.
Help your flag last longer
- Check the outer edge, seams and attachments for wear.
- Keep fabric clear of branches, walls and rough surfaces.
- Take flags down before severe weather when it is safe to do so. An all-weather flag is not damage-proof.
- Follow your flag manufacturer's cleaning directions. Avoid harsh cleaners; allow fabric to dry before storing.
- Keep a spare so a damaged or dirty flag can come down without leaving your display empty.
Outdoor fabric wears with use. Wind exposure, sunlight, size and handling affect its life; no single replacement interval fits every location.
Flagpole checks and service
Do not wait two or three years to inspect a flagpole. Follow its manufacturer's inspection and service instructions. Check from ground level regularly and after storms for visible rope wear, damaged clips, unusual leaning, cracks, corrosion or lighting problems.
Stop using a damaged system and arrange qualified help. Do not climb a pole, attempt structural repairs or work on electrical equipment yourself.
A two-to-three-year service reminder can be a planning tool only when a qualified professional confirms that interval fits your equipment and site. It does not replace earlier inspections or repairs. Exposed sites may need more frequent attention.
For facilities with several poles
Keep a record for each location: pole height and model, approved flag size, attachment type, installation date, last inspection and replacement history. Share photos taken safely from the ground when requesting help.
For service questions in Chicagoland and the north, south and western suburbs, request a review. Tell us your location, pole height, concern and preferred timing so we can discuss availability and scope.
Let The Flag Lady Corp. help
Tell us what is wearing out, send a photo taken from the ground, and include your pole height and location. We can help you review the next step before you order parts. Product-specific care instructions take priority.