How must the national flag be displayed on Memorial Day?

• A. At full staff from reveille until noon.
• B. At half staff from reveille until noon, then immediately before noon, the band will play an appropriate musical selection, and at 1200 hours the national 21 gun salute will be fired at all installations.
• C. At half staff from noon to sunset.
• D. Displayed flat on the ground.

Answer: (C)

On Memorial Day, the flag display is about honoring those who gave their lives in service. The flag is flown at half-staff from sunrise until noon to recognize the sacrifice, and then it is raised to full-staff for the remainder of the day to symbolize the nation’s continued life and resolve. This half-staff-to-full-staff sequence communicates mourning in the morning and renewal in the afternoon.

So, flying at full staff all day would miss the memorial tribute, and keeping it half-staff from noon onward would misstate the intended timing. Displaying the flag flat on the ground is not an appropriate or respectful display. The 21-gun salute is a separate ceremonial act, not part of the standard flag-raising rule for Memorial Day.