CHOOSING THE RIGHT SIZE

The Service Flag is regulated, and there are penalties in the law for making and selling an incorrectly proportioned Service Flag.  Patterns provided to licensed Service Flag manufacturers call for an aspect ratio of 1:1.9.  This leads to a dilemma for anyone interested in flying a Service Flag under or along side a commercial US Flag.  

Few people are aware of the fact that their US Flag is probably not in compliance with the Flag Code.  In 1912 the Flag of the United States was, for the first time, coded in terms of specifications.  These specifications call for an aspect ratio (width to length) of 1:1.9.  This means that a flag 3 feet wide should be 5 feet, 8½ inches long (rounded - actually, 5.7 feet); it also means that the ubiquitous 3' x 5' US Flag - the one most people buy for outdoor display - does not meet the Flag Code!  However, manufacturers have been making this size for so long, and the US Government's regulations are such, that there are no penalties or other sanctions against these flags - they meet the "spirit" of the regulations.  In addition, during the Eisenhower Administration a number of "Executive Agency" sizes were approved for flags to be flown by the US Government itself.  Some of these flags do not have aspect ratios of 1:1.9.  The 1912 specifications for the Flag of the United States and a chart of Executive Sizes are shown below.

According to the regulations governing Service Flags, "C10.3.5.1. The Service flag shall be treated with dignity and respect. When displayed with the flag of the United States, the Service flag shall be of approximately equal size, but never larger than the flag of the United States. The flag of the United States shall occupy the position of honor."  Since the aspect ratio of the Service Flag is coded to be EXACTLY the same as the Flag of the United States (that is, 1:1.9), what size should one choose?

Our regular Service Flag is 32 x 60 inches, which permits it to be flown with a common 3 x 5 foot US Flag while still maintaining the correct 1:1.9 aspect ratio.  In fact, all of our Service Flags and Service Window Banners are made to the required 1:1.9 ratio.  Why then do some licensed manufacturers sell Service Flags in the 3' x 5' size?  They can do this because they have asked for and received a rules waiver (if they are legal Service Flag manufacturers!).  We decided right from the beginning to make our Service Flags conform to the pattern sent to us by THE INSTITUTE OF HERALDRY, the licensing arm of the Department of Defense.  

For anyone wishing to fly a Service Flag with a US Flag of a different size, but not sure what size Service Flag to buy, we have created a special calculator that will solve the problem.  

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