You have enough pride to fly the American colors outside of your home. During the daytime, everyone can see the red, white, and blue. But when the sun goes down, do you keep your flag in the dark?
If you let the sunset on your American flag, you might consider installing a flag light. Flag lights are an excellent way to keep your flag visible, day or night.
If you are wondering if you need a flag light, read on to learn why these outdoor accessories are necessary when displaying your flag!
According to the US Flag Code, you should display your American flag every day, from sunrise to sunset. Many individuals take their flags down in the evening out of respect.
This can be a lot of extra work. If you forget or cannot get to the flag in time, flying your flag in darkness can seem disrespectful. Some individuals who are not aware of the flag code may keep their flags flying twenty-four hours per day, unaware that doing so doesn’t abide by official flag etiquette suggestions.
There is a caveat in the code that can make things easier without being disrespectful. If you illuminate your flag in the darkness, the code states that you may keep it flying at all times. The best way to do this is by installing a flag light.
To properly light your flag, the flag must be lit intentionally, using a dedicated light placed for that specific purpose. Individuals walking past the flag at night must be able to recognize it as the American flag. The installation of a flag light can help you to honor and illuminate your flag all year long.
To honor the US flag code, you want to make sure that you install your flag light correctly. You will need both a ladder and a flashlight to install your light.
Some lights are solar-powered and do not require a source of electricity. Others may use batteries. In some cases, however, you will need to plug the light into an outdoor power source.
If your light does require a cord, you may want to dig to conceal it. You will want to dig a channel approximately four inches below the ground to prevent weather or animals from disturbing it. This may also prevent you or visitors to your home from tripping over the cord.
Once you connect the power, your light should work. Adjust the light so that it illuminates the flag properly. Be sure that it isn’t shining in such a way that you or your neighbors become disturbed by the angle of the light.
Solar-powered lights do not require quite as many steps. You can place them directly onto the flagpole in place of the ornament. Once your solar-powered light has been charged, you will be able to illuminate your flag with ease.
A flag light, especially a solar-powered light, allows you to easily show respect for the flag. Many of them have automatic on/off switches, so you won’t need to remember when to turn the light on for the night. Others work on timers so that you can ensure that your flag is well-lit during any time of year.
Flag lights are an attractive and decorative addition to any home. You can use your light to display all sorts of flags in addition to the American flag, and you will only need to place it once.
Ultimately, using a properly installed flag light is the easiest way to ensure that you follow the US flag code with the least amount of maintenance required. Once your flagpole is lit, you will only need to worry about the flag in cases of extreme weather. In fact, many American flags are weatherproof and, once lit, may not require maintenance at all!
Once you install your flag light, there are very few safety concerns involved. The only concerns are those you would have around any sort of electric wiring.
You will want to make sure that any cords or wires are safely secured so that nobody can trip over them. If properly buried, no animals nor weather should be able to interfere with the wiring. In the case of solar-powered or battery-powered lights, cords are not a concern.
The biggest risk of a flag light is improper installation. If it falls, it can cause harm to nearby objects or even someone on impact. Correct and careful installation can ensure such accidents are avoided.
If climbing a ladder when installing your light, it is best to have someone nearby to help. They might hold the ladder in place and help to read directions while you install the light.
If you have safety concerns, you may wish to hire a professional electrician to install the light for you.
The simplest kind of flag light to install is a solar-powered flag light. These lights are attached onto the flagpole in place of the flagpole ornament using a screw. They typically don’t require maintenance or adjustment once you have installed them.
Other lights might clamp directly onto the flagpole. These can be helpful if you are illuminating more than one flag. Clamp lights can be either solar-powered or wired.
Many people use a flagpole mount to attach directional lights to their flagpole. Directional lights are not designed specifically to light flags and often require more effort during installation.
The majority of flagpole lights, including both solar-powered and wired, use LED light bulbs. These bright lights are long-lasting, and tend to need replacements much less frequently.
The best way to respect your flag is to respect the US Flag Code. If you have been flying your American Flag day and night without proper lighting, it’s time to purchase a flag light. Flagpole Farm offers flag lights and other accessories to ensure that you are flying your flag the right way.
Are you ready to purchase your own flag light? Browse our selection of flagpole lights, flags and other accessories. You will be able to keep the light shining for years to come!
*Blog Disclaimer: Flagpole Farm and Titan Telescoping Flagpoles are businesses solely focused on the production and sale of flagpoles and similar accessories. This blog is not to be used as a factual reference, rather as an opinion-based forum in which the information within is not official statements made on behalf of or by Flagpole Farm or Titan Telescoping Flagpoles. Information provided on this blog is accurate and true to the best of the writers’ knowledge, however, there may be omissions, errors, or mistakes. The writers of these blogs are not professionals in the Flagpole industry and the information included within this blog should not be viewed as written by such. At any point, Flagpole Farm reserves the right to change the focus and/or content of this blog.
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