U.S. LIFE > Symbols and Celebrations > The Flag > Proclamation of President Harry S. Truman

Proclamation 2795

Whereas the joint resolution of Congress of June 22, 1942, Entitled "Joint Resolution to Codify and Emphasize Existing Rules and Customs Pertaining to the Display and Use of the Flag of the United States of America," as amended by the joint resolution of December 22, 1942, 56 Stat. 1074, contains the following provisions:

Sec. 2. (a) It is the universal custom to display the flag only from sunrise to sunset on buildings and on flagstaffs in the open. However, the flag may be displayed at night upon special occasions when it is desired to produce a special effect.

Sec. 8. Any rule or custom pertaining to the display of the flag of the United States of America, set forth herein, may be altered, modified, or repealed, or additional rules with respect thereto may be prescribed, by the Commander in Chief of the Army and Navy of the United States, whenever he deems it to be appropriate or desirable; and any such alteration or additional rule shall be set forth in a proclamation,

and

WHEREAS Francis Scott Key, after having anxiously watched from afar the bombardment of Fort McHenry throughout the night of September 13th, 1814, saw his country's flag still flying in the early morning of the following day; and

WHEREAS this stirring evidence of the failure of the prolonged attack inspired him to write "The Star-Spangled Banner," our national anthem:

NOW THEREFORE, I, Harry S. Truman, President of the United States of America and Commander in Chief of the Army and Navy, do hereby proclaim that, as a perpetual symbol of our patriotism, the flag of the United States shall hereby be displayed at Fort McHenry National Monument and Historic Shrine at all times of the day and night, except when the weather is inclement.

The rules and customs pertaining to the flag as set forth in the joint resolution are modified accordingly.

In witness whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and caused the Seal of the United States of America to be affixed.

DONE at the city of Washington this 2nd day of July in the year of our Lord nineteen hundred and forty-eight, and of the Independence of the United States of America the one hundred and seventy-second.

HARRY S. TRUMAN

PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES