<P> The flag is customarily flown year - round at most public buildings, and it is not unusual to find private houses flying full - size (3 by 5 feet (0.91 by 1.52 m)) flags . Some private use is year - round, but becomes widespread on civic holidays like Memorial Day, Veterans Day, Presidents' Day, Flag Day, and on Independence Day . On Memorial Day it is common to place small flags by war memorials and next to the graves of U.S. war veterans . Also on Memorial Day it is common to fly the flag at half staff, until noon, in remembrance of those who lost their lives fighting in U.S. wars . </P> <P> The United States Flag Code outlines certain guidelines for the use, display, and disposal of the flag . For example, the flag should never be dipped to any person or thing, unless it is the ensign responding to a salute from a ship of a foreign nation . This tradition may come from the 1908 Summer Olympics in London, where countries were asked to dip their flag to King Edward VII: the American flag bearer did not . Team captain Martin Sheridan is famously quoted as saying "this flag dips to no earthly king", though the true provenance of this quotation is unclear . </P> <P> The flag should never be allowed to touch the ground and, if flown at night, must be illuminated . If the edges become tattered through wear, the flag should be repaired or replaced . When a flag is so tattered that it can no longer serve as a symbol of the United States, it should be destroyed in a dignified manner, preferably by burning . The American Legion and other organizations regularly conduct flag retirement ceremonies, often on Flag Day, June 14 . (The Boy Scouts of America recommends that modern nylon or polyester flags be recycled instead of burned, due to hazardous gases being produced when such materials are burned .) </P> <P> The Flag Code prohibits using the flag "for any advertising purpose" and also states that the flag "should not be embroidered, printed, or otherwise impressed on such articles as cushions, handkerchiefs, napkins, boxes, or anything intended to be discarded after temporary use". Both of these codes are generally ignored, almost always without comment . </P>

What does a blue and white us flag mean