The Flag

An Observation - The Flag

Part of the duties working at either of the Visitor Centers or PDI (Painted Desert Inn) is to raise and lower the Flag. The last time I had anything to do with a flag was in the military so it’s been a while. If I knew the proper procedure, it had long since drifted away to the other side of my mind, so it was a re-learning experience. The Flag is raised and lowered promptly at the hour of opening and closing, so whatever you are doing in your procedures stop at that moment and the Flag is taken care of. Do you know the proper way to raise the Flag? How about lowering it?

Well, for the record, the Flag is to be raised to the top rapidly and lowered slowly. If it is a day when the Flag is to be at half-staff, it is raised to the top and then lowered to the half-staff position. At the end of that day the colors would be raised to the top before being lowered to the ground. Another rule is that the Flag never touches the ground. So you need to be careful when handling it. And then there is the proper way to fold it into the triangle that we have all seen. Once you figure out the trick, it’s not difficult. I have it figured out so it goes fairly smoothly, but a stiff wind does present a challenge and we have stiff winds often in the afternoon. One more thing to learn.