--- title: 3 Pieces of U.S. Flag Trivia (That You Might Not Know) description: If you think you're well-versed on the history of the nation's banner, here's a few pieces of flag trivia that you might now know! Click to learn more! image: https://www.accentbanner.com/hubfs/Blog_Post_Pics/flag.jpg --- 2 min read # 3 Pieces of U.S. Flag Trivia (That You Might Not Know) [ Accent Banner ](https://www.accentbanner.com/blog/author/accent-banner) : Oct 19, 2017 3:04:00 PM [flag facts](https://www.accentbanner.com/blog/topic/flag-facts) [flag trivia](https://www.accentbanner.com/blog/topic/flag-trivia) [US Flag Facts](https://www.accentbanner.com/blog/topic/us-flag-facts) ![3 Pieces of U.S. Flag Trivia (That You Might Not Know)](https://www.accentbanner.com/hubfs/Blog_Post_Pics/flag.jpg) The U.S. flag is an instantly recognizable symbol of pride for many Americans. However, Old Glory has some unusual quirks to it that not all of us know about. If you think you're well-versed on the history of the nation's banner, here's a few pieces of flag trivia that you might now know!   ![flag.jpg](https://www.accentbanner.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Blog_Post_Pics/flag.jpg?width=455&height=349&name=flag.jpg) ****Looks like somebody made a hasty mistake - however it could be a cry for help!*** ### #1: Flying the Flag Upside Down We all know that the flag flies with the stars on blue in the upper left... but if someone flies the flag upside down, that doesn't mean they made a mistake. [It's a distress signal](http://www.2020site.org/fun-facts/American-Flag-Fun-Facts.html), and means imminent help is required. According to the United States Flag Code: "*The flag should never be displayed with the union down, **except as a signal of dire distress in instances of extreme danger to life or property.*"  So next time you think somebody made a silly mistake with their upside down flag, think again! This could be a call of distress! ### #2: Lighting the US Flag ![2f7bf1df0129a9747fe6b05f2f569241.jpg](https://www.accentbanner.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Blog_Post_Pics/2f7bf1df0129a9747fe6b05f2f569241.jpg?width=223&name=2f7bf1df0129a9747fe6b05f2f569241.jpg) Along with the numerous other rules and procedures that make up the flag code, one includes how the flag is to be lit up. The Flag Code states “The flag may be displayed 24 hours a day if properly illuminated during the hours of darkness.”  [According to Were You Wondering](http://www.wereyouwondering.com/10-interesting-facts-about-the-us-flag/), this is why if a flag is left on its pole overnight, a light needs to be shone on it. Natural light is perfectly acceptable for illumination, though, which is why flags are traditionally raised at dawn, and lowered at sunset. In order to be fully respectful of the correct rules of flying the American flag be sure to have the correct outdoor lighting at your home if you want to keep it flying overnight.     ### #3: Retiring a Flag Via Burning ![flag-retirement-fire-300x199.jpg](https://www.accentbanner.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Blog_Post_Pics/flag-retirement-fire-300x199.jpg?width=300&height=199&name=flag-retirement-fire-300x199.jpg) We've all heard of the controversies surrounding flag burning, typically when it's done as a form of speech to protest either the U.S. in general, or something the government is currently involved in doing. However, what some people don't know is that when flags are torn, stained, ragged, or just too old to fly anymore, they're supposed to be burned. This is considered a respectful way of doing away with a flag that is no longer serviceable. To learn about other [flag disposal](https://www.accentbanner.com/flag-cleaning-repair) methods or to get your flag correctly disposed of contact Accent Banner today.   For more fun flag trivia and flag facts checkout our recent [flag trivia blog posts](https://www.accentbanner.com/blog/topic/flag-facts). If you're interested in getting a quote for [flag disposal](https://www.accentbanner.com/flag-cleaning-repair), [flag repair](https://www.accentbanner.com/flag-cleaning-repair), or for creating your own [custom flag or banner](https://www.accentbanner.com/custom-banners) contact us today to receive a free quote. A member of our team of flag and banner specialist will happily walk you through the process of making a custom flag for your home or business. [![New Call-to-action](https://no-cache.hubspot.com/cta/default/140523/79c3c534-714e-4404-82ba-3b49fc69dfcb.png)](https://cta-redirect.hubspot.com/cta/redirect/140523/79c3c534-714e-4404-82ba-3b49fc69dfcb) - [Tweet](https://twitter.com/share) [![Flag Facts: Fun Facts about Pirate Flags](https://www.accentbanner.com/hubfs/Blog_Post_Pics/pirates-2.jpg) ](https://www.accentbanner.com/blog/flag-facts-fun-facts-about-pirate-flags) 1 min read #### [Flag Facts: Fun Facts about Pirate Flags](https://www.accentbanner.com/blog/flag-facts-fun-facts-about-pirate-flags) [Accent Banner](https://www.accentbanner.com/blog/author/accent-banner) : Nov 7, 2017 11:52:00 AM Perhaps no symbol is more iconic than the eerie skull and crossbones of a Jolly Roger flag or pirate flag as it is often referred to. There is... [flag facts](https://www.accentbanner.com/blog/topic/flag-facts) [flag trivia](https://www.accentbanner.com/blog/topic/flag-trivia) [pirate flags](https://www.accentbanner.com/blog/topic/pirate-flags) [Read More](https://www.accentbanner.com/blog/flag-facts-fun-facts-about-pirate-flags) [![Flag Facts: Fun Facts about Pirate Flags](https://www.accentbanner.com/hubfs/Blog_Post_Pics/pirates-2.jpg) ](https://www.accentbanner.com/blog/flag-facts-fun-facts-about-pirate-flags-0) 1 min read #### [Flag Facts: Fun Facts about Pirate Flags](https://www.accentbanner.com/blog/flag-facts-fun-facts-about-pirate-flags-0) [Accent Banner](https://www.accentbanner.com/blog/author/accent-banner) : Oct 16, 2023 9:00:00 AM Perhaps no symbol is more iconic than the eerie skull and crossbones of a Jolly Roger flag or pirate flag as it is often referred to. There is... [flag facts](https://www.accentbanner.com/blog/topic/flag-facts) [flag trivia](https://www.accentbanner.com/blog/topic/flag-trivia) [pirate flags](https://www.accentbanner.com/blog/topic/pirate-flags) [Read More](https://www.accentbanner.com/blog/flag-facts-fun-facts-about-pirate-flags-0) [![Flag Tips, Trivia and History](https://www.accentbanner.com/hubfs/Blog_Post_Pics/nunst004.gif) ](https://www.accentbanner.com/blog/flag-tips-trivia-and-history-five-of-the-most-interesting-state-flags) 2 min read #### [Flag Tips, Trivia and History](https://www.accentbanner.com/blog/flag-tips-trivia-and-history-five-of-the-most-interesting-state-flags) [Accent Banner](https://www.accentbanner.com/blog/author/accent-banner) : Aug 15, 2017 7:56:00 AM Five of the Most Interesting State Flags While the American flag is one of the most well-known symbols in the world, the individual state flags are... [flag history](https://www.accentbanner.com/blog/topic/flag-history) [flag trivia](https://www.accentbanner.com/blog/topic/flag-trivia) [state flags](https://www.accentbanner.com/blog/topic/state-flags) [Read More](https://www.accentbanner.com/blog/flag-tips-trivia-and-history-five-of-the-most-interesting-state-flags) ```json { "@context" : "https://schema.org", "@type" : "BlogPosting", "author" : { "@type" : "Person", "name" : "Accent Banner", "url" : "https://www.accentbanner.com/blog/author/accent-banner" }, "datePublished" : "2017-10-19T19:04:00.000Z", "headline" : "3 Pieces of U.S. Flag Trivia (That You Might Not Know)", "image" : [ "https://www.accentbanner.com/hubfs/Blog_Post_Pics/flag.jpg" ], "mainEntityOfPage" : { "@id" : "https://www.accentbanner.com/blog/3-pieces-of-u.s.-flag-trivia-that-you-might-not-know", "@type" : "WebPage" }, "publisher" : { "@type" : "Organization", "logo" : { "@type" : "ImageObject", "url" : "https://www.accentbanner.com/hs-fs/hub/140523/file-2560462787.png" }, "name" : "Accent Banner, LLC" } } ```