The American Flag - What to Buy, and How to Fly It

So, you want to fly an American Flag in front of your hame. Good for you! But, what do you need to know about buying the right sized flag with the right materials for outdoors, considering durability and sun exposure? What are your choices for displaying the flag? Here’s some very useful information about how to go about buying a flag, flag poles and ultimately, mounting it for display.

The US Flag Shows Your Colors- Red, White and True Blue

From Betsy Ross’ first efforts to sew an emblem of a new nation, to the Star Spangled Banner flown in the War of 1812 that inspired Francis Scott Key to write a poem that would become our national anthem, to the stars and stripes that were hoisted amid the wreckage of the World Trade Center after September 11, the U.S. flag represents the principles, the hope, and the perseverance of the United States and of the American people.

Individuals and businesses purchase U.S. Flags to demonstrate their patriotism and their support for our country and for the men and women who serve in our armed forces. Yet, because most people buy very few U.S. flags over the course of their lifetimes, it’s sometimes difficult to know what kind of U.S. flag to buy, or which flag would be most appropriate for the use you have in mind. Here, then, are some pointers:

Materials for Outdoor U.S. Flags

The four most popular brands of U.S. flags are Dura-Lite, Bulldog, Champion, and Endurance. Dura-Lite U.S. flags are known for their durable nylon fabrication, rich colors, versatility, and sewn stripes. Bulldog flags are made from high quality cotton, and feature embroidered stars and sewn stripes. Champion flags are constructed from durable polyester, and are known for withstanding the elements - like moisture, wind, and sun. These extra rugged flags are typically employed for institutional uses, and feature either sewn or embroidered stars and sewn stripes. Endurance flags are made from rugged mesh nylon with appliqued stars and sewn stripes. The mesh reduces wind resistance, giving the flag a very long life, while its light weight gives it extraordinary flying ability.

What Size is Right?

When you purchase U.S. flags, the size of the flag is largely dependent upon the size of the flagpole. A 15-foot flagpole, for example, would fly a flag no larger than about 2-1/2 feet by 4 feet. A 30-foot flag pole would fly a U.S. flag about 5 feet by 8 feet, and a 40-foot flag pole would fly a flag about 8 feet by 12 feet.

Flying the U.S. Flag at Home

Most people don’t have flagpoles in their front yards, and so opt for U.S. flag residential mounts. There are several options available. One is an aluminum flagpole that measures five feet by one inch and that is recommended for flags that are either 2 feet by 3 feet or 3 feet by 5 feet. You can also purchase pole sets that have a heavy-duty two-position mounting bracket and 1-1/2-inch aluminum pole. Some pole sets come with a decorative eagle, poles that extend up to 6 feet, and a pewter finish.

If you don’t wish to use a bracket and pole, you can certainly display your U.S. flag on your balcony, windowsill, or against the wall. When you do so, proper flag etiquette dictates that the flag is displayed flat, either horizontally or vertically, with the stars displayed on the flag’s own right. This means that, when you’re standing in front of the flag, the star area (also called the union) should be to your left.

The US flag is a wonderful symbol of the liberties and principles that we hold dear, and those who purchase U.S. flags are always encouraged to proudly display the stars and stripes.

Chris Robertson is an author of Majon International, one of the worlds MOST popular internet marketing companies on the web. Learn more about How to Purchase U.S. Flags or Majon’s Shopping - General directory.

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June 27 2008 | American Flags | No Comments »

Spice Up Your Home Decor With Holiday Flags

You might associate flags with national pride, but that’s not all they’re for. Lots of people are also deciding to display flags for important occasions and holidays. You can choose from a wide variety of holiday flags, including Easter, Valentine’s Day, Christmas and Thanksgiving, not to mention lots of others. Here are a few of your options when it comes to choosing from popular holiday flag designs.

New Years: New Year’s flags are getting more popular, and tend to be mostly party oriented. Some can be reused year after year, but others have the date printed or sewn on them. You may also see patriotic New Year’s flags, featuring the Stars and Stripes in various arrangements. You can order custom flags and choose from many sizes and colors. For other cultures that don’t celebrate the traditional January 1st New Year, there are still New Year’s flags. Chinese New Year flags and ones for other cultures are also available.

Valentine’s Day: In February, you’ll be able to fly sweet Valentine’s Day designs. Once thought to be the first day of the mating season for birds, Valentine’s Day has associations with love and romance, and so do its flags. Choose from classic hearts, arrows, Cupids, balloons and roses. If you’re not feeling in the Valentine’s Day spirit, think about a broken heart flag. These flags are flown just about everywhere, from parties and restaurants to at home.

St. Patrick’s Day: Fly the green on St. Patrick’s day. Choose from lots of different flags that people associate with Ireland, from its national flag to shamrocks, rainbows, leprechauns and pots of gold. You’ll see these in parades, in people’s houses, and in bars and pubs serving green beer.

Easter: Another popular choice are Easter flags, whether they’re secular or religious. You’ll see rabbits and chicks, Easter eggs, lilies, spring items and other symbols on flags. These are fun flags to display at kids’ parties, or just because you’re happy to see Spring. For those who prefer a strong religious statement, crosses and other more traditional Easter symbols are also available for display. They’ll remind passers by that Easter isn’t just about chocolate.

Fourth of July: For the Fourth of July, the American flag is an old standby, but that’s not the only one that people fly. There are historical American flags, flags with fireworks, and others with other patriotic designs. Fly them proudly to celebrate Independence Day.

Thanksgiving: There are more Thanksgiving flags out these days, too. You’ll see them indoors and on people’s homes, with designs like the Mayflower and first settlers, fall leaves, cornucopias, turkeys, scarecrows and more. These flags fly during parades, or just during a good family meal.

Christmas: Christmas is a season for flags, too. Like Easter, it’s developed its own secular symbols, in addition to the religious ones. That means you’ll see crosses and nativity flags, as well as holly and ivy. You may see Christmas tree flags, candy cane flags, Santa and his reindeer, snowmen, Christmas lights, and lots more.

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June 24 2008 | flags | No Comments »