Parade Etiquette Question

[PRINCESS VIJA]

We were at our Memorial Day Parade this morning. DH and I got to talking about parade etiquette, and we were unsure of what to do... so I told him I would come and ask on the DIS, which of course he agreed to because he knows the DIS is all knowing...!!!!

Anyway, when the soldiers in the color guard come marching by, we all stand up and clap. ANd any other time a soldier with flags comes by we stand up, but what about when an American Flag comes by as part of the local H.S. band, are you supposed to stand up? No one around us did, and we were wondering if you are supposed to?

 

[rparmfamily]

DH is at work (duty) or I'd ask him but I think anything the flag goes by you stand up and put your hand on your heart. Oh and of course face the flag.

 

[clh2]

Yes, I believe it is appropriate to stand when the flag is going by.

One thing I have found at Memorial Day parades is there seem to be a higher number of elderly people present, and at the last parade I was at, it wouldn't have been feasible for some of the elderly people to show respect for the flag by standing.

 

[kirbsam]

i am dont think you need to stand when the flag goes by. i am as patriotic as they come, but this seems unnecessary to me.

 

[Eeyores Butterfly]

If every group has a flag of some kind, I could see where that would not be logical. I'm not sure there's one set norm for this. It seems a lot of it would be regional/circumstancial. could you imagine if it kept going by popping up and down? It seems like it would just be easier for everybody to stand!

 

[disykat]

I don't know if it's correct or not, but we always stand for color guards and any veteran's group. We do not stand for every band or motorcyclist that has a flag or we would be standing the entire parade.

I have noticed that very few people even stand for the color guards - not even the very first one of the parade!

 

[OrlandoMike]

From the United States Flag Code


Conduct during hoisting, lowering or passing of flag
During the ceremony of hoisting or lowering the flag or when the flag is passing in a parade or in review, all persons present except those in uniform should face the flag and stand at attention with the right hand over the heart. Those present in uniform should render the military salute. When not in uniform, men should remove their headdress with their right hand and hold it at the left shoulder, the hand being over the heart. Aliens should stand at attention. The salute to the flag in a moving column should be rendered at the moment the flag passes.

 

[mantysk8coach]

I was taught to stand for the first flag of the parade, and put your hand over your heart. Seems like everyone around us today did the same thing.

My grandparents were very involved in the American Legion, and flag/parade etiquitte was drilled into my head at a very young age!

 

[pyrxtc]

you actually get to sit down for parades ?? We ahve always stood throughout so it has never come up.

 

[manning]

You stand and salute the flag. No matter who is carrying the flag. It passes you by in a parade you salute it. If in uniform it is the military salute. If in civilian dress it is the hand over the heart (remove your hat men).

 

[disykat]

The people who salute each flag - Do you ever sit down? Around here, almost everyone who passes has a flag. Horse clubs and motorcycle clubs especially all carry flags.

 

[MichelleinMaine]

I was taught to stand for any flag carried by a color guard- be it military, fire dept, boy scouts... stand, hand over heart as it passes and then sit down. No need to stand for flags as part of floats, on cars, little ones carried by parade marchers, etc.

It bothers me when my family and I are the only ones standing as a color guard goes by.

 

[MichelleinMaine]

duplicate post

 

[Liberty Belle]

I don't know if it's correct or not, but we always stand for color guards and any veteran's group. We do not stand for every band or motorcyclist that has a flag or we would be standing the entire parade.

I have noticed that very few people even stand for the color guards - not even the very first one of the parade!

Ditto.

 

[Eeyores Butterfly]

Hasy anybody ever read the book The Man Who Loved Clowns? It was written by June Rae Wood and the main character in the book PUnky has Down Syndrome. This thread reminds me of a scene in the book. They are watching a parade and a flag comes by. Punky tells a grumpy man "Up Dummy" because he refuses to sand for the flag. It's one of my favorite scenes in the book.