Texas Flag Etiquette
Displaying and Folding the Texas Flag
The Texas flag, according to the Flag Code, "shall be hoisted briskly and lowered ceremoniously".
The blue field, shall be against the flag pole and the white stripe shall be at the top, except in the case of a life and death emergency. That means, if the flag is flying upside down, you are in mortal danger.
When you display the Texas flag, the flag should not touch the ground, should always be on a flag pole and should always be allowed to wave free. It should be displayed with appropriate lighting if out after dark, and should not be flown in inclement weather.
The only flag that can be flown above the Texas flag on a single flag pole is the United States flag, but it is recommended that the Texas flag have its own flag pole of equal height to the United States flag.
If the Texas flag is passing, as in a parade, you should - if you are a citizen of Texas - stand, remove your hat, and place your right hand over your heart. If you are not a citizen of Texas, you are expected to remove your hat and stand reverently, until the flag has passed.
If you are carrying the Texas flag, it shall never be dipped to anyone or anything, except as a sign of honor to the United States flag. You should not draw it back or up in folds, it should be held in such a way that it will fly free.
The Texas Pledge of Allegiance:
"Honor the Texas flag; I pledge allegiance to thee, Texas, one state under God, one and indivisible."
The Pledge of Allegiance may be recited at any public or private meeting when the Pledge of Allegiance to the United States flag is recited, and it should come after the pledge to the United States flag.
Always recite the pledge once the flag has reached the top of the flag pole.
When taking down the flag, do it slowly, and with reverence. When it reaches the bottom of the flag pole, don't let it touch the ground. Then it should be folded.
There is no proscribed way to fold the Texas flag; however, the Sergeant at Arms in Austin folds the flags that fly over the capitol building in the following manner:
Fold the flag in half lengthwise, with the red stripe on the top.
Fold it in half lengthwise again; make sure the red in on the inside.
Beginning at the blue field, fold the corner up, to where the folded edge meets the open edge forming a triangle.
Continue folding the corner over in triangles, until you have one nice white triangle package.
Then store the flag in a place where it will not get torn or soiled.
An old, retired, Texas flag should be burned. It may be cut into pieces and each color burned separately or burned in one piece. However it is retired, it should be done ceremoniously and with reverence.
March 2nd is Texas Flag Day - also Texas Independence day.
Published by Arlene Mason
Arlene Mason is a freelance writer who has published the following e-books: "How to Build a Hot Tub" "Understanding Low-Carb Dieting" "On the Edge" and "Stepping Stones", as well as numerous print articles. View profile
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4 Comments
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Your Texas flag folding is wrong. You should fold the flag in triangle from the white to the blue so you end with a blue triangle with part of the star showing. As stated by the Texas State Library and Archives Commission.
I agree with Linda C. The Texas flag is to be flown at the same height as the US flag. Get another pole.
I received a copy of the September 2009 Texas Bar Journal this morning and notice the Texas flag is flying below the United States flag because the flags are on one flag pole. I remember in high school civics class learning that the Texas flag is flown level with the U. S. flag because Texas was a country before being made part of the Union. Now I find out it's a matter of "etiquette" and that it can be flown either way. Seems to me a place such as the capitol in Austin should spring for two flag poles in all locations on the capitol grounds so the Texas flag can fly level with the U. S. flag. Thank you for your article on Texas flag etiquette. It supports my cause!