Did you know that the United States has a Flag Code?
I’d always thought that the practice of Americans in placing their right hand over their heart for the raising of the flag and the singing of the anthem was simply tradition. But, as this piece from the BBC site explains, there is actually a Flag Code.
The code was first drawn up only in 1923, under the auspices of the American Legion, and only became law, when the USA was at war, in 1942. It seems that the code is never enforced, however, and there is no punishment for breaching it.
Amazingly the full Flag Code runs to 14 pages and you can check out the text here.
All this reminds me of my visit to Fort McHenry near Baltimore, the location for the crafting of the US anthem ‘The Star-Spangled Banner” – check out my short account here.