Page:What to do for Uncle Sam; a first book of citizenship (IA whattodoforuncle00bail).pdf/139

Rh must be hung at half-mast as a sign of mourning. The flag should first be raised to the top of the pole and then lowered to position. Its place is a distance the width of the flag from the top of the pole. In taking down the colors at half-mast, first raise the flag to the top and then lower it.

You may see American flags that look strange to you because of their different arrangement of stars. This is due to a custom that has arisen in the Army and Navy. There is no rule about it but in the large flags used in the Army, the stars are ordinarily arranged in the form of one large star. In the Navy the stars are placed in long straight lines.

There is rather a strange American flag that is apt to puzzle boys and girls who live inland. It has sixteen stripes, eight red and eight white running up and down. There is a white field in the corner with the national arms in blue on it. This is the United States revenue flag, and is displayed on customs houses and on revenue cutters.

The best flag in the world for us is the Stars and Stripes, so old, that our great, great, great grandfathers loved it, too, and so spangled with its stars that they crowd each other. It deserves all honor, and as much care and respect as every child in our United States can give it. This is