Customs and courtesies of the U.S. Flag Published Nov. 2, 2006 By Senior Airman Holly MacDonald 20th Fighter Wing Public Affairs SHAW AIR FORCE BASE, S.C. -- It's 5 p.m. Like most days, Senior Airman Shaketheia Hinton stops, comes to attention and salutes the flag during the playing of the National Anthem. Assigned to the 20th Fighter Wing Plans and Inspections office as a client system administrator, Airman Hinton ends her duty day the same way almost every day: saluting the flag during retreat. Most days she thinks about what she needs to do once she gets home. But on this particular day, as the first note of the National Anthem sounds, memories associated with the U.S. flag and what it means to her go through her mind.She remembers watching parades through her town as a child, her grandfather telling her the importance of the flag. She remembers learning the flag's history in school and pledging allegiance every morning. She is reminded of the day she took her oath of enlistment, fearful of what was soon to come, but eager to be a part of the many men and women who serve this great country. She then recalls her final salute at basic training, the culmination of many tired hours of dedication. She thinks about all of the other servicemembers who have saluted the U.S. flag, past and present, airman basic to general, and then recalls who she has become and how proud her parents, grandparents and brother are of her. As the last notes of the National Anthem echo throughout the base, she thinks about how proud she is to serve her country and how proud she is to salute her country's flag.The flag Airman Hinton honors is in front of the 9th Air Force building. But there is another. Students attending Airman Leadership School raise and lower the flag every day they are in session. "During the Air Force culture portion of Airman Leadership School, we teach Airmen about the American Flag. I believe every American should know the proper customs and courtesies when it comes to the flag," said Staff Sgt. Eric Nelson, Airman Leadership School instructor. Some of these customs and courtesies include learning about how to properly display the flag. According to United States Code, Title 4, chapter 1, universal custom is to display the flag only from sunrise to sunset on buildings and on stationary flagstaffs in the open. However, when a patriotic effect is desired, the flag may be displayed 24 hours a day as long as it is properly illuminated during the hours of darkness. At Shaw, the U.S. flag is flown 24 hours a day and is only lowered on days the flag is flown at half-staff or if it has been weathered, Sergeant Nelson said. When the flag is flown at half-staff, it is first hoisted to the peak, for an instant, and then lowered to the half-staff position. The flag is then raised to the peak before it is lowered for the day. On Memorial Day, the flag is displayed at half-staff until noon only, and then raised to the top of the staff. The flag is also flown at half-staff at federal buildings to indicate mourning when someone of national importance dies. The president specifies the period of time the flag is flown at half-staff. An installation, however, may fly the flag at half-staff in honor of the death of its commander. In the same fashion, the installation commander may honor the death of any assigned active-duty officer or Airman, or any civilian who died while employed by the Air Force, according to Air Force Pamphlet 36-2241 Volume 2, "U.S. Air Force Supervisory Examination Study Guide." The flag is considered weathered when it is in such condition that it is no longer a fitting emblem for display. It should be destroyed in a dignified way, preferably by burning, according to United States Code, Title 4, chapter 1. Boy Scout troops and Veterans of Foreign Wars have ceremonies for disposal of flags and will accept weathered flags for disposal. "I feel the flag represents people who have gone before us and have passed away. The flag represents lives and the cost of freedom. It has been forgotten what people have done for this country. It is a significant event when someone passes, not just those who are serving in Iraq and Afghanistan, but past wars as well. Saluting and respecting the flag is part of being American; we should all be honored to be part of it," said Tech. Sgt. Michael Lindley, ALS instructor.