(4)  A Member of Congress, on the day of death and the following day.  (h)  Special days designated in accordance with this section for flying the flag at half-staff may be proclaimed by the Governor in a manner that he deems appropriate. No part of the information on this site may be reproduced for profit or sold for profit. This material has been drawn directly from the official Pennsylvania Code full text database. Due to the limitations of HTML or differences in display capabilities of different browsers, this version may differ slightly from the official printed version.

(1)  The President or a former President, for 30 days from the day of death.    (2)  The Vice President, the Chief Justice or a retired Chief Justice of the United States or the Speaker of the House of Representatives, for 10 days from the day of death.    (3)  An Associate Justice of the Supreme Court, a Secretary of an executive or military department, a former Vice President or the Governor of a State, territory or possession, from the day of death until interment.    (4)  A Member of Congress, on the day of death and the following day.  (h)  Special days designated in accordance with this section for flying the flag at half-staff may be proclaimed by the Governor in a manner that he deems appropriate. No part of the information on this site may be reproduced for profit or sold for profit. This material has been drawn directly from the official Pennsylvania Code full text database. Due to the limitations of HTML or differences in display capabilities of different browsers, this version may differ slightly from the official printed version.

Since World War II, interest in flags has expanded beyond their creation and use. Political scientists, historians, sociologists, and others recognize them as artifacts expressive of the cultures of certain times and places. The scholarly study of the history, symbolism, etiquette, design, manufacture, and other aspects of flags is known as vexillology (from the Latin vexillum, “banner”). Such studies are fostered by many publications as well as by the International Federation of Vexillological Associations and its members.

(d)  In the event of the death of other officials or foreign dignitaries, the flag is to be displayed at half-staff according to Presidential instructions or orders, or in accordance with recognized customs or practices not inconsistent with law.  (e)  The flag shall be flown at half-staff upon the death of the Governor from the day of death until interment.  (f)  In the event of the death of a present or former official of the government of this Commonwealth, the Governor may proclaim that the National flag shall be flown at half-staff.  (g)  The flag shall be flown at half-staff for the period indicated upon the death of any of the following officials of the United States:    (1)  The President or a former President, for 30 days from the day of death.    (2)  The Vice President, the Chief Justice or a retired Chief Justice of the United States or the Speaker of the House of Representatives, for 10 days from the day of death.    (3)  An Associate Justice of the Supreme Court, a Secretary of an executive or military department, a former Vice President or the Governor of a State, territory or possession, from the day of death until interment.    (4)  A Member of Congress, on the day of death and the following day.  (h)  Special days designated in accordance with this section for flying the flag at half-staff may be proclaimed by the Governor in a manner that he deems appropriate. No part of the information on this site may be reproduced for profit or sold for profit. This material has been drawn directly from the official Pennsylvania Code full text database. Due to the limitations of HTML or differences in display capabilities of different browsers, this version may differ slightly from the official printed version.

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Images of the flags of the countries of the world, as well as recordings of their national anthems, can be accessed at the special feature Flags and Anthems of the World. Flag images can also be seen in the articles on individual countries.

The Pennsylvania Code website reflects the Pennsylvania Code changes effective through 54 Pa.B. 5070 (August 3, 2024).

In the Western Hemisphere, Canada uses a maple leaf as a distinctive emblem of the country. The former political union of five of the countries of Central America is commemorated by their retention of the old blue-white-blue Central American flag, which has been modified by each particular country. The common historical heritage of Venezuela, Colombia, and Ecuador is shown by the almost identical yellow-blue-red tricolour flags they use. Some other South American countries were influenced in their choice of flags by those of the United States or France.

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(a)  The flag, when flown at half-staff, shall be first hoisted to the peak for an instant and then lowered to the half-staff position. The flag shall be again raised to the peak before it is lowered for the day.  (b)  On Memorial Day, the flag shall be displayed at half-staff until noon only, then raised to the top of the staff.  (c)  By order of the President, the flag shall be flown at half-staff upon the death of principal figures of the United States Government and the Governor of a State, territory, or possession, as a mark of respect to their memory.  (d)  In the event of the death of other officials or foreign dignitaries, the flag is to be displayed at half-staff according to Presidential instructions or orders, or in accordance with recognized customs or practices not inconsistent with law.  (e)  The flag shall be flown at half-staff upon the death of the Governor from the day of death until interment.  (f)  In the event of the death of a present or former official of the government of this Commonwealth, the Governor may proclaim that the National flag shall be flown at half-staff.  (g)  The flag shall be flown at half-staff for the period indicated upon the death of any of the following officials of the United States:    (1)  The President or a former President, for 30 days from the day of death.    (2)  The Vice President, the Chief Justice or a retired Chief Justice of the United States or the Speaker of the House of Representatives, for 10 days from the day of death.    (3)  An Associate Justice of the Supreme Court, a Secretary of an executive or military department, a former Vice President or the Governor of a State, territory or possession, from the day of death until interment.    (4)  A Member of Congress, on the day of death and the following day.  (h)  Special days designated in accordance with this section for flying the flag at half-staff may be proclaimed by the Governor in a manner that he deems appropriate. No part of the information on this site may be reproduced for profit or sold for profit. This material has been drawn directly from the official Pennsylvania Code full text database. Due to the limitations of HTML or differences in display capabilities of different browsers, this version may differ slightly from the official printed version.

(g)  The flag shall be flown at half-staff for the period indicated upon the death of any of the following officials of the United States:    (1)  The President or a former President, for 30 days from the day of death.    (2)  The Vice President, the Chief Justice or a retired Chief Justice of the United States or the Speaker of the House of Representatives, for 10 days from the day of death.    (3)  An Associate Justice of the Supreme Court, a Secretary of an executive or military department, a former Vice President or the Governor of a State, territory or possession, from the day of death until interment.    (4)  A Member of Congress, on the day of death and the following day.  (h)  Special days designated in accordance with this section for flying the flag at half-staff may be proclaimed by the Governor in a manner that he deems appropriate. No part of the information on this site may be reproduced for profit or sold for profit. This material has been drawn directly from the official Pennsylvania Code full text database. Due to the limitations of HTML or differences in display capabilities of different browsers, this version may differ slightly from the official printed version.

In the Middle East the predominance of Islam has generally limited the choice of flag colours to the four traditional Muslim colours of red, white, green, and black. The flags of most Arab states use one or more of those colours in a tricolour format, although the star and crescent motif is present in the flags of Turkey, Algeria, and Tunisia. Other primarily Muslim countries, such as Pakistan and Malaysia, also use the star and crescent as a sign of their Islamic faith.

(e)  The flag shall be flown at half-staff upon the death of the Governor from the day of death until interment.  (f)  In the event of the death of a present or former official of the government of this Commonwealth, the Governor may proclaim that the National flag shall be flown at half-staff.  (g)  The flag shall be flown at half-staff for the period indicated upon the death of any of the following officials of the United States:    (1)  The President or a former President, for 30 days from the day of death.    (2)  The Vice President, the Chief Justice or a retired Chief Justice of the United States or the Speaker of the House of Representatives, for 10 days from the day of death.    (3)  An Associate Justice of the Supreme Court, a Secretary of an executive or military department, a former Vice President or the Governor of a State, territory or possession, from the day of death until interment.    (4)  A Member of Congress, on the day of death and the following day.  (h)  Special days designated in accordance with this section for flying the flag at half-staff may be proclaimed by the Governor in a manner that he deems appropriate. No part of the information on this site may be reproduced for profit or sold for profit. This material has been drawn directly from the official Pennsylvania Code full text database. Due to the limitations of HTML or differences in display capabilities of different browsers, this version may differ slightly from the official printed version.

(f)  In the event of the death of a present or former official of the government of this Commonwealth, the Governor may proclaim that the National flag shall be flown at half-staff.  (g)  The flag shall be flown at half-staff for the period indicated upon the death of any of the following officials of the United States:    (1)  The President or a former President, for 30 days from the day of death.    (2)  The Vice President, the Chief Justice or a retired Chief Justice of the United States or the Speaker of the House of Representatives, for 10 days from the day of death.    (3)  An Associate Justice of the Supreme Court, a Secretary of an executive or military department, a former Vice President or the Governor of a State, territory or possession, from the day of death until interment.    (4)  A Member of Congress, on the day of death and the following day.  (h)  Special days designated in accordance with this section for flying the flag at half-staff may be proclaimed by the Governor in a manner that he deems appropriate. No part of the information on this site may be reproduced for profit or sold for profit. This material has been drawn directly from the official Pennsylvania Code full text database. Due to the limitations of HTML or differences in display capabilities of different browsers, this version may differ slightly from the official printed version.

(b)  On Memorial Day, the flag shall be displayed at half-staff until noon only, then raised to the top of the staff.  (c)  By order of the President, the flag shall be flown at half-staff upon the death of principal figures of the United States Government and the Governor of a State, territory, or possession, as a mark of respect to their memory.  (d)  In the event of the death of other officials or foreign dignitaries, the flag is to be displayed at half-staff according to Presidential instructions or orders, or in accordance with recognized customs or practices not inconsistent with law.  (e)  The flag shall be flown at half-staff upon the death of the Governor from the day of death until interment.  (f)  In the event of the death of a present or former official of the government of this Commonwealth, the Governor may proclaim that the National flag shall be flown at half-staff.  (g)  The flag shall be flown at half-staff for the period indicated upon the death of any of the following officials of the United States:    (1)  The President or a former President, for 30 days from the day of death.    (2)  The Vice President, the Chief Justice or a retired Chief Justice of the United States or the Speaker of the House of Representatives, for 10 days from the day of death.    (3)  An Associate Justice of the Supreme Court, a Secretary of an executive or military department, a former Vice President or the Governor of a State, territory or possession, from the day of death until interment.    (4)  A Member of Congress, on the day of death and the following day.  (h)  Special days designated in accordance with this section for flying the flag at half-staff may be proclaimed by the Governor in a manner that he deems appropriate. No part of the information on this site may be reproduced for profit or sold for profit. This material has been drawn directly from the official Pennsylvania Code full text database. Due to the limitations of HTML or differences in display capabilities of different browsers, this version may differ slightly from the official printed version.

(h)  Special days designated in accordance with this section for flying the flag at half-staff may be proclaimed by the Governor in a manner that he deems appropriate. No part of the information on this site may be reproduced for profit or sold for profit. This material has been drawn directly from the official Pennsylvania Code full text database. Due to the limitations of HTML or differences in display capabilities of different browsers, this version may differ slightly from the official printed version.

Almost all the flags of the sub-Saharan African countries were created in the late 1950s and ’60s and bear strong family resemblances to one another. The two major categories are flags of member states of the British Commonwealth and those of countries formerly under French colonial control. The flags of the former French colonies tend to have vertical tricolours and are generally green-yellow-red, while the flags of the Commonwealth members have horizontal tricolours and often include green, blue, black, and white.

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(c)  By order of the President, the flag shall be flown at half-staff upon the death of principal figures of the United States Government and the Governor of a State, territory, or possession, as a mark of respect to their memory.  (d)  In the event of the death of other officials or foreign dignitaries, the flag is to be displayed at half-staff according to Presidential instructions or orders, or in accordance with recognized customs or practices not inconsistent with law.  (e)  The flag shall be flown at half-staff upon the death of the Governor from the day of death until interment.  (f)  In the event of the death of a present or former official of the government of this Commonwealth, the Governor may proclaim that the National flag shall be flown at half-staff.  (g)  The flag shall be flown at half-staff for the period indicated upon the death of any of the following officials of the United States:    (1)  The President or a former President, for 30 days from the day of death.    (2)  The Vice President, the Chief Justice or a retired Chief Justice of the United States or the Speaker of the House of Representatives, for 10 days from the day of death.    (3)  An Associate Justice of the Supreme Court, a Secretary of an executive or military department, a former Vice President or the Governor of a State, territory or possession, from the day of death until interment.    (4)  A Member of Congress, on the day of death and the following day.  (h)  Special days designated in accordance with this section for flying the flag at half-staff may be proclaimed by the Governor in a manner that he deems appropriate. No part of the information on this site may be reproduced for profit or sold for profit. This material has been drawn directly from the official Pennsylvania Code full text database. Due to the limitations of HTML or differences in display capabilities of different browsers, this version may differ slightly from the official printed version.

(2)  The Vice President, the Chief Justice or a retired Chief Justice of the United States or the Speaker of the House of Representatives, for 10 days from the day of death.    (3)  An Associate Justice of the Supreme Court, a Secretary of an executive or military department, a former Vice President or the Governor of a State, territory or possession, from the day of death until interment.    (4)  A Member of Congress, on the day of death and the following day.  (h)  Special days designated in accordance with this section for flying the flag at half-staff may be proclaimed by the Governor in a manner that he deems appropriate. No part of the information on this site may be reproduced for profit or sold for profit. This material has been drawn directly from the official Pennsylvania Code full text database. Due to the limitations of HTML or differences in display capabilities of different browsers, this version may differ slightly from the official printed version.

(3)  An Associate Justice of the Supreme Court, a Secretary of an executive or military department, a former Vice President or the Governor of a State, territory or possession, from the day of death until interment.    (4)  A Member of Congress, on the day of death and the following day.  (h)  Special days designated in accordance with this section for flying the flag at half-staff may be proclaimed by the Governor in a manner that he deems appropriate. No part of the information on this site may be reproduced for profit or sold for profit. This material has been drawn directly from the official Pennsylvania Code full text database. Due to the limitations of HTML or differences in display capabilities of different browsers, this version may differ slightly from the official printed version.

Among the better known of Europe’s striped flags was the red-white-blue flag of the Netherlands. Because of its use in that country’s long war for independence from Spain, the flag and its colours became associated with the concepts of liberty and a republican form of government. That association was greatly reinforced by France’s adoption of the same colours, but with vertical instead of horizontal stripes, following the French Revolution of 1789. The newly independent United States’ choice of those colours for the Stars and Stripes, however, was based on its former affiliation with Britain and the colours of the Union Jack. Other countries in Europe and in South and Central America selected tricolours of their own to express their adherence to the principles of liberty, equality, and fraternity as embodied in the French flag.

Following the introduction of heraldry into Europe in the 12th and 13th centuries, European royalty adopted coats of arms that soon became the basis of their flags. Those heraldic devices have largely disappeared from modern national flags, but the colours used in the coats of arms are still the colours of the flags of Poland, Belgium, Germany, Spain, Hungary, Luxembourg, and Monaco. The flags of Austria and the tiny states of San Marino and Liechtenstein still display the heraldic devices themselves.

The colours and designs of national flags usually are not arbitrarily selected but rather stem from the history, culture, or religion of the particular country. Many flags can be traced to a common origin, and such “flag families” are often linked both by common traditions and by geography. The oldest European flags still in use are those that display the Christian cross, which was first extensively used in the Crusades. Of note is the British flag, the Union Jack, which incorporates the Crosses of St. George (England), St. Andrew (Scotland), and St. Patrick (Ireland). Among other European flags with crosses are those of Norway, Sweden, Finland, Denmark, Greece, and Switzerland.

The flags of the countries of Asia present a remarkable diversity that is largely due to the development of distinctive national symbols before the era of European colonization. The one general pattern that may be noted is the use of a religious or political symbol against a background of a solid colour. There are flags featuring the Sun (Japan, Nepal, Taiwan), a wheel (India), the yin-yang symbol (South Korea, Mongolia), a dragon (Bhutan), and a sword (Sri Lanka). Australia and New Zealand use modified versions of a type of British flag, the blue ensign.

The flag of the Soviet Union was red with a yellow hammer and sickle, the traditional symbol of revolution for communists. China also adopted a red flag on the basis of that colour’s communist associations.