Wondering how to properly fly the Betsy Ross 250 Flag during America's 250th anniversary celebrations? While the design resembles the original 13-star American flag, its commemorative modifications change how it should be displayed alongside the official U.S. flag.
What Kind of Flag Is This?
Display protocol begins with one question: what category does this flag fall into? Three types matter here.
| CURRENT OFFICIAL 50-Star U.S. Flag The official flag of the United States, governed by the U.S. Flag Code, and the flag that holds the position of honor in a display. | HISTORICAL DESIGN Original 13-Star Flag A Revolutionary-era American flag design associated with the original thirteen states and the Flag Resolution of 1777. | COMMEMORATIVE Betsy Ross 250 Flag A modified anniversary version of the 13-star design, created to commemorate America's 250th anniversary in 2026. |
Protocol note: The U.S. Flag Code does not specifically classify modified anniversary flags. Because the Betsy Ross 250 Flag is commemorative rather than the current official U.S. flag, display it in a supporting position whenever it appears with the 50-star flag.
Order of Precedence
When multiple flags are displayed together, the current 50-star U.S. flag receives the position of honor. For a display that includes the Betsy Ross 250 Flag, use the following practical order:
| Position | Flag Type | Example |
|---|---|---|
| 1st | U.S. flag | Current 50-star flag |
| 2nd | Other national flags | Flags of other countries |
| 3rd | State flags | Illinois state flag, for example |
| 4th | Commemorative flags | Betsy Ross 250 Flag |
Flag Day is observed every year on June 14 to mark the 1777 adoption of the Stars and Stripes. In 2026, it falls just 20 days before July 4, when the United States marks the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence. That makes Flag Day a natural time to fly your flag, inspect its condition, and review the display rules before the patriotic season peaks.
Quick answer: Flag Day is a national observance, not a federal holiday. It commemorates June 14, 1777, when the Continental Congress approved the first official U.S. flag design: thirteen stripes and thirteen white stars on a blue field.
Where Flag Day Comes From
On June 14, 1777, the Second Continental Congress passed the Flag Resolution: "Resolved, That the flag of the thirteen United States be thirteen stripes, alternate red and white; that the union be thirteen stars, white in a blue field, representing a new constellation."
That one sentence established the first official American flag. It did not say who would sew it, how large it should be, or how the stars had to be arranged. Early American flags varied because those details were left to individual flagmakers.
The 13 stripes represented the original colonies. The 13 stars represented the same. Stripes were eventually fixed at 13 to preserve that founding symbolism, while stars continued to be added as new states joined the Union. The current 50-star design has been in use since 1960.
How Flag Day Became Official
Flag Day did not become a national observance all at once. One of the people most closely associated with the movement was Bernard J. Cigrand, a Wisconsin schoolteacher who held a "Flag Birthday" observance with his students on June 14, 1885.
Cigrand spent decades writing, speaking, and organizing in support of a national day for the flag. In 1916, President Woodrow Wilson issued a proclamation recognizing June 14 as Flag Day. In 1949, President Harry S. Truman signed legislation designating June 14 of each year as National Flag Day.
Important distinction: Flag Day is a national observance, not one of the standard federal holidays. Banks, schools, and businesses may operate normally, but the day still has official recognition.
Why Flag Day 2026 Matters
Flag Day 2026 lands during the America 250 semiquincentennial season. July 4, 2026 marks 250 years since the Declaration of Independence, while the flag itself turns 250 on June 14, 2027.
That timing gives Flag Day 2026 extra visibility. It is not a different holiday, and the display rules do not change. But it is a good moment to connect the flag's origin story to the broader 250th anniversary of American independence.
For flag owners, the practical takeaway is simple: use June 14 as a readiness check before July 4. Look at the condition of the flag, the hardware, the lighting, and whether your setup still fits how you display it.
How to Display the American Flag on Flag Day
The U.S. Flag Code says the flag should generally be displayed from sunrise to sunset on buildings and stationary flagstaffs in the open. It may be displayed at night if it is properly illuminated.
On Flag Day, the flag normally flies at full staff. Half-staff is not standard unless a presidential or gubernatorial proclamation directs otherwise.
| DAY DISPLAY Sunrise to Sunset Fly the flag during daylight hours, then bring it in at sunset unless it will be illuminated. | NIGHT DISPLAY Use Lighting If the flag stays up after dark, use a dedicated light source so it remains visible. | STAFF POSITION Full Staff Flag Day is normally a full-staff day unless an official half-staff order is active. |
Display note: If you are unsure about current half-staff orders, check for a current presidential or state proclamation before raising the flag.
Flag Day Etiquette to Know
You do not need a ceremony to observe Flag Day well. The basics matter most: display the flag cleanly, keep it secure, and retire it respectfully when it is no longer fit for display.
- Keep the Union in the right position. When displayed flat against a wall or in a window, the blue field of stars should appear in the upper left from the observer's perspective.
- Use an all-weather flag outdoors. The Flag Code says the flag should not be displayed in inclement weather unless an all-weather flag is used.
- Retire worn flags respectfully. A flag that is torn, badly faded, or no longer fitting for display should be retired rather than thrown away.
For a deeper walkthrough, see our American Flag Etiquette Rules guide.
Five-Minute Flag Day Readiness Check
Before June 14, take a few minutes to inspect your setup.
- Check the fly end for fraying or loose stitching.
- Check the red stripes and blue Union for heavy fading.
- Check grommets, clips, brackets, poles, and stabilizer rods.
- Make sure you have lighting if the flag will stay up after sunset.
- Fold and store any retired flag until it can be turned over to a proper retirement program.
If your display needs updating before July 4, start with the basics: a clean American flag, secure hardware, and a display location that keeps the flag visible without letting it drag, wrap, or strike the building.
Need a simple porch or entryway setup before Flag Day? Start with outdoor American flag sets and compatible house-mounted hardware.
Shop Outdoor American Flag SetsRelated Flag Day Guides
| American Flag Etiquette Rules Union placement, weather, lighting, and respectful handling. | Install a House-Mounted Flagpole Set up a bracket, pole, and stabilizer rod before Flag Day. |
| Choose the Right American Flag Match the flag to your porch, yard, pole, or seasonal display. | How to Fold an American Flag Use the 13-fold method before storage, ceremony, or retirement. |
Flag Day does not need to be complicated. Raise the flag, display it properly, and take a moment to remember why June 14 matters. In 2026, with America 250 approaching, that small act carries a little extra weight.