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My office is at the front of our headquarters building. We have three four story high flagpoles. One with Old Glory, one with the state flag and one with the company flag.
So this afternoon they go out to change over The Stars and Stripes as it was a bit faded. They start to wind down the national flag but stop after a few seconds, then raise it again. Then they go over and lower the state and company flags to just above the ground, then go back and lower Old Glory, replace the flag, raise it, and then they went over and raised the other two flags.
I'm thinking they started to lower the national flag, realized that for the time they had it lowered to replace there would be flags flying higher than it against etiquette, so stopped and did what they did.
I tried to find it under flag etiquette, but couldn't. I suspect you do not have to lower the other flags when simply replacing the national flag as it is not actually "flying" when being lowered for the short period to replace.
If you think of an array of dozens of flags outside many sporting events or buildings, is it expected to lower all of them if you are taking our national flag down to quickly replace it?
"When flown with flags of states, communities, or societies on separate flag poles which are of the same height and in a straight line, the flag of the United States is always placed in the position of honor - to its own right.
..The other flags may be smaller but none may be larger.
..No other flag ever should be placed above it.
..The flag of the United States is always the first flag raised and the last to be lowered.
When flown with the national banner of other countries, each flag must be displayed from a separate pole of the same height. Each flag should be the same size. They should be raised and lowered simultaneously. The flag of one nation may not be displayed above that of another nation."
The question was - when replacing it and none of the flags surrounding it, is there a specific etiquette for that?
I doubt it. Generally the US flag is supposed to be raised and lowered daily (at least at Government installations). That being the case, my guess is that replacement would be presumed to take place at that time. Generally, based on "The flag of the United States is always the first flag raised and the last to be lowered". I would tend to think that they did it correctly.
I doubt it. Generally the US flag is supposed to be raised and lowered daily (at least at Government installations). That being the case, my guess is that replacement would be presumed to take place at that time. Generally, based on "The flag of the United States is always the first flag raised and the last to be lowered". I would tend to think that they did it correctly.
Actually I believe you may keep it up so long a lit. And we have a light for each pole.
When they half mast them, as they did for remembrance day and Fort Hood a week ago, they lower it last and raise it again first.
Actually I believe you may keep it up so long a lit. And we have a light for each pole.
When they half mast them, as they did for remembrance day and Fort Hood a week ago, they lower it last and raise it again first.
That's right about the lights.....If the flag stays up 24/7, I would go with the first/last rule like they did....going back to your original question, I don't think there's a written rule any more specific than that, so I guess it would be a judgement call to some degree....but I kind of like the cannon shot at sunset idea.
I think for the short time it takes to swap a flag, it would be no problem. Atleast they thought enough to swap it out. I see a few tattered ones flying.
Flag Etiquette 
