Bellaire /sw houstonROTARY proudly presents:

FLAGs over bellaire

Bellaire/Southwest Houston Rotary’s “Flags Over Bellaire” program is a fund-raising project of the club that is managed solely through volunteer efforts of Rotarians. The subscription fees are applied to projects and services that benefit our community, and the flags are an attractive addition to local residences and businesses.

HOW DOES IT WORK?

Rotarians place a large American Flagin your yard a day or two before each of four holidays annually, then remove the flag during the week following the holiday.You are responsible for following properflag protocol while the flag is on your property, and we encourage you to print and retain a copy of “Respect for the Flag,” which appears at the end of this article to assist you in this regard.Because of manpower limitations, subscriptions are available only to residents of Bellaire and immediately adjacent areas.

HOW MUCH DOES IT COST?

Subscriptions are sold on an annual basis, one address / one flag, per subscription. A subscription includes 4 holiday flag placements. Each subscription costs $50. You may subscribe for your home or business, or purchase a subscription as a gift for a friend. If you want multiple flags accenting your landscape, you need a subscription for each flag. Subscriptions are automatically renewed unless cancelled in writing, with an additional payment becoming due on the anniversary of the firstsubscription.

HOW do i subscribe?

To subscribe by MAIL: Print and complete all blanks in the Tri-fold Mailer at the end of this article - - one for each paid subscription - - then mail the form(s) and your$50 check (payable to “Bellaire /SW Houston Rotary Club”)to: “FLAG PROGRAM”, P.O. Box 254, Bellaire, TX 77402.

For credit card purchases (MC / Visa / American Express only):

You may FAXfull subscription and credit card information to 713-662-2347, or

EMAILfull subscription credit card information to , or

TELEPHONE full subscription and credit card information to (713) 666-5680, or

SUBSCRIBE ONLINE at

THE Top Ten Reasons to fly a flag

from the Bellaire/SW Houston Rotary Club

10 –What a colorful way to show your patriotism!

9 –No hassle - Rotarians place & remove heavy flags from your premises

8 –Your fee supports Rotary’s volunteer humanitarian services to senior citizens, neighborhood schools, academic scholarships, & MANY other charitable programs in your community

7 – An American flag is a handsome addition to your yard or workplace

6 –Forget forgetting to put out your flag - your flag will actually FLY four times each year

5 –No storage or maintenance problems for you

4 –No investment required in poles, supports, or the flag itself

3 –A one-yearsubscription is a BARGAIN at only $50

2 – You know your provider - civic leaders from your own neighborhood have kept Bellaire/SWHoustonRotary going strong for almost 50 years

1 –It’s EASY to subscribe & beautify YOUR community

Founded in 1957 and guided by our motto, SERVICE ABOVE SELF, Bellaire/SW Houston Rotary has donated over $300,000 to these and other community services during the past decade:
*Boys and Girls Club of Houston*Westland YMCA*Nature Discovery Center on Evergreen*Southwest 2000*International Vocational Exchange*Braes Inter-faith Ministries*Pre-school neighborhood immunizations*Boys and Girls Harbor*International Matching Humanitarian Projects*Middle School Anti-Drug Essay Program*Guererro Medical Mission*Boy Scouts of America*Mediation Training for High School Students*Vocational Training for High School Students*Local Elementary, Middle, and High Schools*Youth Leadership Awards*Teacher of the Year Awards*International University Scholarships*Habitat for Humanity*ALS Research (Lou Gehrig's Disease)*Living Water International*Chamber of Commerce Scholarship Fund*Veritas Foundation - Gang Prevention*Chilean Burn Center*Homeless Pet Placement*Local Firefighters Recognition Program*The Cranio-facial Foundation of Houston*The China Mission (orphan relief)*Vocational Service Recognition Program*Eye Care for Kids
And YOUR Flag Subscription will help us make our next 50 years the best ever!


These SELECTED U.S. Code excerpts regarding proper display handling of a United states Flagare provided to ASSIST Bellaire southwest houston rotary flag SUBSCRIBERSwith protocol

Rules and customs pertaining to the display and use of the flag of the United States of Americahave been codified in the United States Code for the use of civilians, groups, and organizations.

  • No disrespect should be shown to the flag of the United States of America; the flag should not be dipped to any person or thing. Regimental colors, State flags, and organization or institutional flags are to be dipped as a mark of honor.
  • 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.
  • The flag should never touch anything beneath it, such as the ground, the floor, water, or merchandise.
  • The flag should never be carried flat or horizontally, but always aloft and free.
  • The flag should never be used as wearing apparel, bedding, or drapery. It should never be festooned, drawn back, nor up, in folds, but always allowed to fall free. Bunting of blue, white, and red, always arranged with the blue above, the white in the middle, and the red below, should be used for covering a speaker's desk, draping the front of the platform, and for decoration in general.
  • The flag should never be fastened, displayed, used, or stored in such a manner as to permit it to be easily torn, soiled, or damaged in any way.
  • The flag should never be used as a covering for a ceiling.
  • The flag should never have placed upon it, nor on any part of it, nor attached to it any mark, insignia, letter, word, figure, design, picture, or drawing of any nature.
  • The flag should never be used as a receptacle for receiving, holding, carrying, or delivering anything.
  • The flag should never be used for advertising purposes in any manner whatsoever. It should not be embroidered on such articles as cushions or handkerchiefs and the like, printed or otherwise impressed on paper napkins or boxes or anything that is designed for temporary use and discard. Advertising signs should not be fastened to a staff or halyard from which the flag is flown.
  • No part of the flag should ever be used as a costume or athletic uniform. However, a flag patch may be affixed to the uniform of military personnel, firemen, policemen, and members of patriotic organizations. The flag represents a living country and is itself considered a living thing. Therefore, the lapel flag pin being a replica, should be worn on the left lapel near the heart.
  • The flag, when it is in such condition that it is no longer a fitting emblem for display, should be destroyed in a dignified way, preferably by burning
  • It is the universal custom to display the flag only from sunrise to sunset on buildings and on stationary flagstaffs in the open. However, when a patriotic effect is desired, the flag may be displayed 24 hours a day if properly illuminated during the hours of darkness.
  • The flag should be hoisted briskly and lowered ceremoniously.
  • The flag should not be displayed on days when the weather is inclement, except when an all weather flag is displayed.

Full text of the United states Flag Code may be found online at:

Frequently Asked Questions regarding proper flag etiquette and protocol may be viewed online at: